Nutritional Knowledge and Dietary Intake Habits among Pregnant Adolescents Attending Antenatal Care Clinics in Urban Community in Ghana

Abstract

Introduction. Proper nutrition during pregnancy is important for the wellbeing of the mother and foetus and supports health during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding. However, there are little data on nutritional knowledge and dietary intake among adolescents who are pregnant in Ghana. Hence, the study assessed the nutritional knowledge and eating habits of this vulnerable group in the Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipality, Ghana. Methods. The study was cross-sectional and employed a multistage sampling technique to select 423 participants. The study was conducted between October and November 2019. A statistical software was used to analyse data and employed Pearson’s chi-square and logistics regression to assess associations between the outcome and predictor variables. A p value <0.05 at a 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant. Results. Less than half (44.9%) of the pregnant adolescents have high nutritional knowledge. About 19.4% of them have good eating habits, while 23.9%, 18.2%, and 6.4% of them do not take breakfast, lunch, and supper, respectively. However, 15.6%, 13.9%, and 9.2% do take snacks after breakfast, lunch, and supper, respectively. About 55.9%, 59.8%, and 23.0% do not take their breakfast, lunch, and supper on time, respectively. Additionally, only 3.8% of them do take fruits and vegetables daily, while 9.7%, 23.2%, 30.0%, and 26.5% of them do take animal products, energy drinks, carbonated drinks, and legumes/nuts/seeds daily, respectively. The study showed that educational level p = 0.014 , occupation p = 0.016 , ethnicity p = 0.017 , and number of pregnancies p = 0.021 were associated with good eating habits. Conclusion. Eating habit of adolescent pregnant women was not encouraging. Therefore, the municipal health authority with the concerned stakeholders should intensify efforts, including nutritional education to improve good eating habits, such as taking snacks in between meals, eating on time, and balance diet among pregnant adolescents, and to reduce adolescent pregnancy in the municipality.

Dietary and Nutrient Intake, Eating Habits, and Its Association with Maternal Gestational Weight Gain and Offspring’s Birth Weight in Pregnant Adolescents

“…Although most of our participants (67%) reported that their diet had improved during the pregnancy, they did not have adequate dietary and nutrient intake or eating habits. Our participants’ dietary intake was low in legumes and vegetables and excessive in sweetened-sugar beverage consumption, which is common in most age groups [ 21 , 22 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. More than 70% of pregnant adolescents did not eat more than three food groups in their meals.…”

Dietary habits, diversity, and predictors among pregnant women attending primary health care centers for antenatal care in Lagos, Nigeria

“…This is similar to the report of another study in Ghana where only 3.8% take F and V daily but contrasts with report from similar studies in Ireland (76%) and India (47%). [ 26 ] Many Nigerian women might not have information about the recommended number of servings of F and V or be unable to afford the adequate amount. Unfortunately, several micronutrients, which are important for mothers' health as well as baby's growth and development are largely obtained from fruits and vegetables.…”

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“…This study revealed that those pregnant women who attended 5-8 grades were less likely to practice optimal nutrition and health as compared to pregnant women who had no formal education. This finding is supported by the study done in Ghana that, those pregnant adolescents who did not go to school are more likely to be associated with good eating habits than those who attended school [40]. Since it is difficult to give the possible reasons, there is a need for further studies to ascertain contributory factors.…”