OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to develop a series of education materials as a card news format to provide nutrition information for pregnant and lactating women. METHODS: The materials were developed in seven steps. As a first step, the needs of pregnant and lactating women were assessed by reviewing scientific papers and existing education materials, and by interviewing a focus group. The second step was to construct main categories and the topics of information. In step 3, a draft of the contents in each topic was developed based on the scientific evidence. In step 4, a draft of card news was created by editors and designers by editing the text and embedding images in the card news. In step 5, the text, images and sequences were reviewed to improve readability by the members of the project team and nutrition experts. In step 6, parts of the text or images or the sequences of the card news were revised based on the reviews. In step 7, the card news were finalized and released online to the public. RESULTS: A series of 26 card news for pregnant and lactating women were developed. The series covered five categories such as nutrition management, healthy food choices, food safety, favorites to avoid, nutrition management in special conditions for pregnant and lactating women. The satisfaction of 7 topics of the card news was evaluated by 140 pregnant women, and more than 70% of the women were satisfied with the materials. CONCLUSIONS: The card news format materials developed in this study are innovative nutrition education tools, and can be downloaded on the homepage of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Those materials can be easily shared in social media by nutrition educators or by pregnant and lactating women to use.
Comprehension ; Education* ; Female ; Focus Groups ; Food Safety ; Humans ; Pregnant Women ; Social Media

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to develop communication strategies for effective nutrition education targeting pregnant women and to create nutrition education contents. METHODS: The format and the contents of online resources on nutrition information for pregnant women provided by reliable institutions were analyzed. Possible solutions to overcome barriers of nutrition education as well as communication strategies for effective nutrition education were identified by a brainstorming process. Based on the communication strategies, contents for nutrition education were created. Understandability, level of interest, applicability to daily life, harmony of text and illustration, and overall satisfaction of the contents were evaluated by dietitians and pregnant women. RESULTS: The four communication strategies were developed; (1) to focus on a few important messages, (2) to provide evidence-based information, (3) to create illustrations or infographics with a minimum amount of text, and (4) to provide tips on how to improve the current diet options. Based on these strategies, the contents were focused on three important nutrients for pregnant women, folate, iron, and calcium. The percentages of the recommended nutrient intakes of the three nutrients on selected menu and its improved version by adding a dish or changing a dish into another dish were calculated and provided. Finally, the contents were delivered as illustrations with a minimum amount of text. Overall, dietitians and pregnant women were satisfied with the contents. CONCLUSIONS: The contents developed in this study can be used in a pamphlet or a pregnancy diary, or can be shared in social networking services. Further contents on other nutrients and various menu are expected to be developed using these communication strategies.
Calcium ; Diet ; Education* ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Iron ; Nutritionists ; Pamphlets ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women*