Nutrition Knowledge is Associated With the Consumption of Iron Rich Foods: A Survey Among Pregnant Women From a Rural District in Northern Ghana

Abstract

Introduction: Iron deficiency anaemia is an international public health concern and pregnant women are at an increased risk. We investigated the consumption of iron rich foods and associated factors among pregnant women in a rural district from Ghana. Methods: Following a cross-sectional design, dietary intake of iron rich foods was obtained from 252 pregnant women using a 24-hour recall food check list. Nutrition knowledge, attitudes and socio-demographic characteristics were also assessed. Findings: Participants had a mean (SD) knowledge score of 54.66 (22.74)%. About 73% of the participants had heard about iron-deficiency anaemia. Only 16.3% of the participants knew foods that help the body to absorb and use iron while 9.1% knew beverages that decrease iron absorption. About 71% of the participants ate fish and/or seafood while 67.1% of them ate green leafy vegetables. Only 4.4% of the participants ate organ meat, and 29% took flesh meat. Only 22.4% of the study participants usually drank coffee or tea while 78.2% ate vitamin C-rich foods. With regards to attitudes, 88.5% of the participants perceived anaemia to be a serious disease. Nutrition knowledge was significantly associated with the consumption of iron rich foods (β = .02; 95% CI = 0.01-0.02). Conclusion: Nutrition knowledge may be an important determinant of the consumption of iron rich foods among pregnant women making it necessary for healthcare providers to continue to provide nutrition education to pregnant women during routine antenatal care.

Dietary diversity and preferences among pregnant women and its association with anaemia

“…This study, however, discovered that women had low frequency of intake of iron-rich meals such as meat, green leafy vegetables and fruits, which are high in vitamin C to promote iron absorption, leading to anaemia. Adjei-Banuah et al. (2021) found comparable results in pregnant women in northern Ghana.…”

“…This study, however, discovered that women had low frequency of intake of iron-rich meals such as meat, green leafy vegetables and fruits, which are high in vitamin C to promote iron absorption, leading to anaemia. Adjei-Banuah et al (2021) found comparable results in pregnant women in northern Ghana. The high rate of anaemia in pregnant women in the research suggests micronutrient deficiency, a major public health issue in underdeveloped nations (Shubham et al, 2020).…”

Knowledge and Awareness of Iron Deficiency Anemia among Female Students in Dubai

“…A study carried out in Northern Ghana with 252 pregnant women investigated their knowledge regarding iron deficiency anemia and their eating habits. The findings revealed a positive correlation between knowledge and practices as the knowledge scores were significantly associated with an iron-rich diet [12]. An intervention study in India showed that a sixmonth education intervention targeting adolescent girls significantly improved not only their knowledge about IDA but also their health practices such as taking their supplements and checking their hemoglobin levels [13].…”

Anemia among Syrian Refugee Children Aged 6 to 23 Months Living in Greater Beirut, Lebanon, including the Voices of Mothers’ and Local Healthcare Staff: A Mixed-Methods Study

“…Further, a study in Jordan showed an association between maternal educational level and hemoglobin levels among pre-school children aged 36 to 59 months and found their diet to be low in foods that enhance iron absorption but high in foods that inhibit iron absorption [ 21 ]. A lack of knowledge of mothers on an adequate, nutrient-rich diet for themselves and their offspring can be an important contributor to child anemia [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. According to a study undertaken in Beirut, Lebanon (2016), the majority of Syrian refuge women were not knowledgeable about maternal nutrition, half of the women had inadequate dietary practices during pregnancy and a quarter of the women had a negative attitude towards antenatal care [ 25 ].…”