Nutritional Status and Nutritional Knowledge of Malay Pregnant Women in Selected Private Hospitals in Klang Valley
- Author:
Zahara Abdul Manaf
;
Nuruljannah Johari
;
Lee Yee Mei
;
Ng Sim Yee
;
Chua Kai Yin
;
Loke Wai Teng
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Nutritional knowledge;
gestational weight gain;
haemoglobin;
nutrient intake;
food taboo
- From:Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences
2014;12(2):53-62
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Adequate nutrition is important for mothers and their offspring during and after birth. This cross sectional study was
conducted to determine nutritional status and nutritional knowledge of pregnant women from two selected private
hospitals in Klang Valley, Malaysia. A total of 236 Malay pregnant women aged between 20 to 45 years old (mean
age 31+5 years) were recruited through convenient sampling method. Socio-demographic data, nutritional knowledge
and a 24-hours diet recall were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Anthropometric and haemoglobin
data were obtained from the antenatal records in the respective hospitals. The percentages of participants who were
underweight, normal, overweight and obese before pregnancy were 12.7%, 55.1%, 25.0% and 7.2% respectively. Among
those who were obese before pregnancy, a total of 59.7% had inadequate weight gain, 24.6% gained adequate weight
and 15.7% gained excessive gestational weight. About 33.5% of subjects were anaemic (Hb < 11.0g/dL). The mean daily
energy intake of the participants was 1748 ± 526 kcal which was 76% of RNI. Calcium (73% of RNI), folic acid (36% of
RNI), niacin (89% of RNI) and vitamin D (40% of RNI). The nutritional knowledge level of subjects was moderate (51.9 ±
13.8%). Lower monthly household income (p < 0.001), educational level (p < 0.001) and gestational stage (p < 0.05)
of participants were associated with a lower nutritional knowledge level. Nutritional knowledge score was positively
correlated with gestational weight gain (r = 0.166, p < 0.05) and haemoglobin level (r = 0.200, p < 0.05). Subjects
who claimed practising food taboos had higher nutritional knowledge score (54.9 ± 12.5%) than those who did not
(49.9 ± 14.4%)(p < 0.05). A comprehensive nutrition education should be integrated in the antenatal classes to improve
nutritional status of pregnant women
- Full text:W020150511397774613620.pdf
