Authors : Gyabaah Yeboah Andrews; Quayson Solomon Edward; Gyatsen Francis Kweku; Isabella Efua Asamoah; Otoo Yitzhak Rabin

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 9 - September

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/5fnj4dny

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26sep1230

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract :  Background: Pregnant women should be aware that proper nutrition during pregnancy is essential to a healthy outcome for mother and child. Optimal nutrition during this crucial period of development can cement a solid foundation which leads to good health, strong development and potentially better quality of life for the unborn baby in the future. It is important for pregnant women to not just consume enough calories but also follow their doctor-recommended prenatal care plan, including receiving enough nutrients from key food groups such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, fish or other lean protein sources, whole grains and other vitamin-rich foods. By taking steps now to ensure nutritional adequacy, mothers can provide their growing baby with the best opportunity for long-term success and wellbeing. Aim: This proposal aims to determine the knowledge of nutrition and dietary practices among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at the Kaneshie Polyclinic.  Method: A cross-sectional survey was used to gather data from pregnant women who gave their agreement. One hundred and fifty pregnant women attending antenatal at Kaneshie Polyclinic were chosen using convenience sampling technique. Participants filled out a structured questionnaire which was self-administered as well as interviewer administered on the study's aims. (SPSS Version 25.0) and Microsoft Excel were used to analyze the data that had been gathered.

References :

1. Zohoori F. V. (2020). Chapter 1: Nutrition and Diet. Monographs in oral science, 28, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1159/000455365
2. Nana, A., & Zema, T. (2018). Dietary practices and associated factors during pregnancy in northwestern Ethiopia. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 18, 183. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-1822-1
3. Aboagye, E., Agyemang-Duah, W., & Asubonteng, P. (2020). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Pregnant Women towards Nutrition and Antenatal Care in Ghana. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/9478915
4. Abuya, B. A., Ciera, J., & Kimani-Murage, E. (2012). Effect of mother's education on child's nutritional status in the slums of Nairobi. BMC pediatrics, 12, 80. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-12-80
5. ACOG. (2018). Nutrition during pregnancy. Retrieved from https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/nutrition-during-pregnancy
6. Appiah, P. K., Naa Korklu, A. R., Bonchel, D. A., Fenu, G. A., & Wadga-Mieza Yankey, F. (2021). Nutritional Knowledge and Dietary Intake Habits among Pregnant Adolescents Attending Antenatal Care Clinics in Urban Community in Ghana. Journal of nutrition and metabolism, 2021, 8835704. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8835704
7. Arimond, M., Wiesmann, D., Becquey, E., Carriquiry, A., Daniels, M. C., Deitchler, M., ... & Torheim, L. E. (2013). Simple food group diversity indicators predict micronutrient adequacy of women’s diets in 5 diverse, resource-poor settings. The Journal of nutrition, 143(9), 1286-1293. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.113.177659
8. Arzoaquoi, S. K., Essuman, E. E., Gbagbo, F. Y., Tenkorang, E. Y., Soyiri, I., & Laar, A. K. (2015). Motivations for food prohibitions during pregnancy and their enforcement mechanisms in a rural Ghanaian district. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine, 11, 59. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-015-0044-0
9. Asefa, F., Tessema, F., & Beyene, G. (2019). Dietary practice and associated factors among pregnant women in Gondar town North West Ethiopia. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/5068464
10. Barker, D. J., Osmond, C., Kajantie, E., & Eriksson, J. G. (2009). Growth and chronic disease: findings in the Helsinki Birth Cohort. Annals of human biology, 36(5), 445–458. https://doi.org/10.1080/03014460902980295
11. Catherin, N., B, R., V, R., C, A., G, A., P, D., Shanbhag, D., & BR, G. (2017). Beliefs and practices regarding nutrition during pregnancy and lactation in a rural area in Karnataka, India: a qualitative study. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 2(2), 116–120. Retrieved from https://www.ijcmph.com/index.php/ijcmph/article/view/933
12. Chalcarz, W., Merkiel, S., Marzęcka, A., & Godyń-swędzioł, R. (2012). Nutritional knowledge of pregnant women from Kraków. Part 4. Nutritional prevention of diet-related diseases. New Med, 2, 1-5.
13. Dodd, J. M., Grivell, R. M., Crowther, C. A., & Robinson, J. S. (2018). Antenatal interventions for overweight or obese pregnant women: A systematic review of randomised trials. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 125(11), 1336-1346.
14. Eze, U. A., Ezeanochie, M. C., & Olagbuji, B. N. (2019). Factors influencing dietary practices among pregnant women in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, 22(7), 977-983.
15. Fadare, O. O., Amoo, E. O., & Oyewole, O. E. (2019). Nutritional knowledge and practice among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in tertiary hospitals in Ogun State, Nigeria. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2019.1103
16. Daba, G., Beyene, F., Fekadu, H., & Garoma, W. (2013). Assessment of Knowledge of Pregnant Mothers on Maternal Nutrition and Associated Factors in Guto Gida Woreda, East Wollega Zone, Ethiopia. Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences, 3(4), 1-6. doi: 10.4172/2155-9600.1000235
17. Gezimu, W., Bekele, F., & Habte, G. (2022). Pregnant mothers' knowledge, attitude, practice and its predictors towards nutrition in public hospitals of Southern Ethiopia: A multicenter cross-sectional study. SAGE open medicine, 10, 20503121221085843. https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121221085843
18. Giragosov, E., Haggerty, J., Waddington, H., & Yumkella, F. (2018). Predictors of dietary diversity among pregnant women in northern Tanzania. Ecology of food and nutrition, 57(4), 277-297. https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.2018.1466046
19. Girma, W., Genebo, T., & Fantahun, M. (2019). Determinants of dietary practice and nutritional status of pregnant women in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. The international journal of maternal and child health and AIDS, 8(1), 41-51. https://doi.org/10.21106/ijma.287
20. Gyampoh, S., Otoo, G. E., & Aryeetey, R. N. O. (2019). Nutrition knowledge and practice among pregnant women in the Mampong Municipality of Ghana. International Journal of Health Sciences, 13(2), 13-19. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijhs.ijhs_29_19
21. Hoffmann, J. F., Nunes, M. A., Schmidt, M. I., Olinto, M. T., Melere, C., Ozcariz, S. G., Buss, C., Drhemer, M., Manzolli, P., Soares, R. M., Pinheiro, A. P., & Camey, S. (2013). Dietary patterns during pregnancy and the association with sociodemographic characteristics among women attending general practices in southern Brazil: the ECCAGe Study. Cadernos de saude publica, 29(5), 970–980.
22. Imdad, A., Bhutta, Z. A., & Lubbad, I. (2011). Moderate maternal food restriction in pregnancy in developing countries. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 31(1), 11-14. https://doi.org/10.3109/01443615.2010.531734
23. Kavle, J. A., Landry, M., Sharma, S., & Dimick, S. (2015). Provision of individualized nutrition counseling is positively associated with maternal and infant health outcomes in Tanzania. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 11(3), 390-405. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12117
24. Laker, R. C., Wlodek, M. E., Connelly, J. J., & Yan, Z. (2013). Epigenetic origins of metabolic disease: the impact of the maternal condition to the offspring epigenome and later health consequences. Food Science and Human Wellness, 2(1), 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.fshw.2013.03.001
25. Lee, S. E., Talegawkar, S. A., Merialdi, M., & Caulfield, L. E. (2013). Dietary intakes of women during pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries. Public health nutrition, 16(8), 1340–1353. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980012004417
26. Lennox, J., Petrucka, P., & Bassendowski, S. (2017). Eating practices during pregnancy: perceptions of select Maasai women in Northern Tanzania. Global health research and policy, 2, https://doi.org/10.1186/s41256-017-0028-9
27. Mohammed, B. H., Johnston, J. M., Vackova, D., Hassen, S. M., Yi, H., & Tsui, A. O. (2019). The role of male partner in utilization of maternal health care services in Ethiopia: a community-based couple study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 19(1), 28. doi: 10.1186/s12884-019-2176-z
28. Mora, J. O., Durnin, J. V. G. A., & Rahimtoola, R. J. (2019). The pregnant woman: a nutritional problem. British Medical Journal, 4(5844), 61-66. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.4.5844.61
29. Nchangmugyia, A. S., Nguti, A., Tanya, K., Njotang, P. N., & Ndombo, P. K. (2016). Knowledge and attitudes of pregnant mothers towards maternal dietary practices during pregnancy at the Etoug-Ebe Baptist Hospital Yaounde. Health Sciences, 17(June), 24-29.
30. Nnam, N. M. (2015). Improving maternal nutrition for better pregnancy outcomes. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 74(4), 454-459.
31. Nohr, E. A., Frydenberg, M., Henriksen, T. B., & Olsen, J. (2020). Does low energy intake in pregnancy cause preterm birth? A population-based cohort study. PLoS One, 15(4), e0230861.
32. Ogunba, B. O., Ogunbanjo, O. B., Fakayode, O. O., Adetunji, O. E., Adeleye, O. A., Adejuyigbe, E. A., & Adekunle, A. O. (2017). Determinants of dietary practices among pregnant women in Nigeria. Journal of health, population, and nutrition, 36(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-017-0115-5
33. Olagbuji, B. N., Ezeanochie, M. C., Ande, A. B., & Ekaete, E. E. (2019). Dietary practices among pregnant women in Nigeria: Implications for maternal and neonatal health. International Journal of Women's Health, 11, 693-699.
34. World Health Organization. (2016). WHO Recommendation on Antenatal care for positive pregnancy experience. WHO Recommendation Antenatal care Posit pregnancy Exp. Retrieved from http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/250796/1/9789241549912-eng.pdf
35. Ota, E., Hori, H., Mori, R., & Farrar, D. (2015). Antenatal dietary education and supplementation to increase energy and protein intake (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CD000032(6).
36. Otaigbe, B. E., & Adegbesan-Omilabu, M. A. (2020). Dietary taboos and preferences among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Lagos State, Nigeria. Journal of Health Research and Reviews, 7(2), 97-103.
37. Owolabi, O. T., Lawal, T. O., & Akintayo, A. A. (2019). Herbal medicine use among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Nigeria. International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine, 30(2), 101-111.
38. Paskulin, T. A., Drehmer, M., Olinto, M. T., Hoffmann, J. F., Pinheiro, P., Schmidt, M. I., & Chatkin, M. (2017). Association between dietary patterns and mental disorders in pregnant women in Southern Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria, 39(3), 208-215.
39. Perumal, N., Cole, D. C., Ouédraogo, H. Z., Sindi, K., Loechl, C., Low, J., & Levin, C. (2013). Health and nutrition knowledge, attitudes and practices of pregnant women attending and not-attending ANC clinics in Western Kenya: A cross-sectional analysis. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 13(146), 1-12.
40. Phelan, S. (2010). Pregnancy: A "teachable moment" for weight control and obesity prevention. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 202(2), 135.e1-135.e8.
41. Rosen, J. G., Clermont, A., Kodish, S. R., Matar Seck, A., Salifou, A., Grais, R. F., & Isanaka, S. (2018). Determinants of dietary practices during pregnancy: A longitudinal qualitative study in Niger. Maternal & child nutrition, 14(4), e12629. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12629
42. Sakyi, E. K., Tarkang, E. E., & Amoah, P. A. (2019). Determinants of dietary practices among pregnant women in Ghana: an application of the theory of planned behaviour. Journal of health, population, and nutrition, 38(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-019-0197-6
43. Schramm, L., Hunter, C. M., Nodine, P. M., McKyer, E. L. J., & Benden, M. E. (2018). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors related to Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Pregnant Women in the United States. Journal of Pregnancy, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9365956
44. van den Boogaard, E., Birnie, E., Denktaş, S., & Steegers, E. A. (2021). Dietary practices and supplement use in pregnant women from the Netherlands: The Generation R Study. Nutrients, 13(3), 813.
45. Wong, J. L., Tunku, U., & Rahman, A. (2018). Knowledge of nutrition during pregnancy and associated factors among antenatal mothers. International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences, 5(1), 117-128.
46. Wrottesley, S. V., Lamper, C., Pisa, P. T., Norris, S. A., & Draper, C. E. (2018). Diet quality of pregnant women in a rural area of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 31(3), 43-50
47. Zerfu, T. A., Umeta, M., & Baye, K. (2016). Dietary habits, food taboos, and perceptions towards weight gain during pregnancy in Arsi, rural central Ethiopia: a qualitative cross-sectional study. Journal of health, population, and nutrition, 35(1), https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-016-0059-8
48. Alimoradi, Z., Fotouhi, A., Omidvar, N., Ghaffari-Fam, S., & Farahani, F. K. (2020). Factors influencing maternal food choices during pregnancy: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20(1), 153.
49. Skouteris, H., Hill, B., McCabe, M., & Swinburn, B. (2013). Maternal nutrition and body mass index, a review of the literature. Nutrition & Dietetics, 70(4), 299-309.