Effectiveness of nutrition education on nutrient intake and pregnancy outcomes in Migori county, western Kenya

Maternal nutrition is critical as it lays fundamental foundation for the successful outcome of pregnancy. Kenya’s high rates of under nutrition among women of reproductive age are due to sub-optimal feeding practices, inadequate nutrient intake and insufficient knowledge on nutritionally adequate diets leading to poor pregnancy outcomes. This study assessed nutrient intakes and pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women of about 22 weeks gestation exposed to a psycho-educational nutrition initiative in Migori County. A prospective cohort study design and simple random sampling was used to obtain a sample of 150 pregnant women who were enrolled into the Intervention Study. Data was collected using 24-hour dietary recall, anthropometric measurements and health records and was analysed by Nutri-Survey and SPSS and tested using t-tests and regression model. The mean of macronutrient intakes at baseline were 1613±439 kcal for energy, protein 62.6±24.6 g, carbohydrates 245±7 g, fat 41±2 g and after the intervention, mean energy intake was 2159±309 Kcal, protein 86±2 g, carbohydrates 312±6 g and fat 61±3 g. There was a significant improvement in the intakes for all the macronutrients after four months exposure to the intervention. The mean micronutrient intakes by the women at baseline were, vitamin A, 1255±2131 µg, folic acid, 197±7 µg, vitamin C 67±4 mg, calcium 300±141 mg, iron 115±3 mg and zinc 12±4 mg. The mean intakes after the intervention were, Vitamin A 1750±3560 µg, folic acid 249±7µg, vitamin C 90±6 mg, calcium 442±2 mg, iron 15±3 mg and zinc 16±4 mg. There was a significant increase in intake of all micronutrients after the intervention. Mean gestation age at recruitment was 21 weeks, gestation age at delivery was 37.7 weeks. The mean birth weight was 3098±5 grams. Babies born before 37 weeks gestation were 32.6 % while 67.4 % were born at ≥37 weeks gestation. Coefficients of determination (R2) from the regression model showed that there were positive significant effects of nutrition knowledge obtained from the psycho-educational initiative on nutrient intake after the intervention and on pregnancy outcomes. The intervention had a significant effect on nutrient intake and pregnancy outcomes and should be strengthened in the healthcare system to improve nutrition knowledge and dietary practices for enhanced nutrient intakes and pregnancy outcomes. Key words: Pregnant women, Nutrition Education, Nutrient intake, Pregnancy outcomes

[1]  Maureen Zubie-Okolo,et al.  Monitoring the Situation of Children and Women , 2022 .

[2]  S. Shiferaw,et al.  Effect of Nutrition Education on Pregnancy Specific Nutrition Knowledge and Healthy Dietary Practice among Pregnant Women in Addis Ababa , 2017 .

[3]  J. Matta,et al.  Evaluation of Food Behaviour and Nutritional Status of Pregnant WomenResident in Keserwan , 2017 .

[4]  R. Martorell,et al.  Prenatal care and child growth and schooling in four low- and medium-income countries , 2017, PloS one.

[5]  R. Martorell,et al.  Timing of Gestational Weight Gain on Fetal Growth and Infant Size at Birth in Vietnam , 2017, PloS one.

[6]  P. Menon,et al.  Stop stunting: improving child feeding, women's nutrition and household sanitation in South Asia , 2016, Maternal & child nutrition.

[7]  A. Makokha,et al.  Factors associated with low birth weight among neonates born at Olkalou District Hospital, Central Region, Kenya , 2015, The Pan African medical journal.

[8]  Shobha S Rao Potential of Community Based Approach for Prevention of Anaemia among Women of Childbearing Age from Rural India , 2014 .

[9]  A. Dent,et al.  Improved Pregnancy Outcomes in a Prospective Study of Pregnant Women Enrolling in an Antenatal Clinic in Western Kenya , 2014 .

[10]  R. Martorell,et al.  Maternal and child undernutrition and overweight in low-income and middle-income countries , 2013, The Lancet.

[11]  Tamoghna Biswas,et al.  How to Calculate Sample Size for Different Study Designs in Medical Research? , 2013, Indian journal of psychological medicine.

[12]  A. Girard,et al.  Nutrition education and counselling provided during pregnancy: effects on maternal, neonatal and child health outcomes. , 2012, Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology.

[13]  J. Kimiywe,et al.  Energy intake,physical activity and gestational weight gain among pregnant women at Rongo sub-district hospital , 2011 .

[14]  Y. Martin-Prével,et al.  Micronutrient adequacy of women's diet in urban Burkina Faso is low. , 2010, The Journal of nutrition.

[15]  M. Magadi Poor pregnancy outcomes among adolescents in South Nyanza region of Kenya. , 2006, African journal of reproductive health.

[16]  K. Kraemer,et al.  The road to good nutrition: a global perspective. , 2013 .

[17]  Amellie Bautista Brugada Delivery of Prenatal Health Education and Pregnancy Outcomes in Selected Aeta Tribes in Bataan , 2011 .