Volume : 1, Issue : 1, June - 2012

Impact of Maternal Nutrition Education Module on Nutritional Knowledge And Status in Rural Pregnant Women

Dr. Anjali A. Rajwade

Abstract :

Preventive maternal health care is beneficial for pregnant woman and her baby as pregnancy is a link between two generations. Routine antenatal care as given today needs innovative changes for better care of pregnant women. Nutritionist can contribute significantly by imparting nutritional education in tandem with health care. The objective of the present study was therefore, to assess the impact of an innovative maternal nutritional education module developed by nutritionist; on nutritional knowledge and nutritional status of rural pregnant women. 180 rural pregnant women in 1st trimester of pregnancy were selected. Their nutritional knowledge status and nutritional status were assessed. Maternal nutritional education was imparted using a specific educational module by the researcher, with the help of trained nurses. Post education status of the knowledge and nutritional status were assessed. Low, medium and high K level was observed in 86.11%, 13.89% and 0.00% respectively at pre education stage. At the post education stage these changed to 12.78%, 57.78% and 29.44% respectively with pre and post CV of 37.15 and 23.01 respectively. This indicates significantly positive impact on maternal nutritional knowledge due to the module. Percent change in knowledge (with CV of 61.49%) implied significantly positive impact of the educational module. Nutritional status assessment shows that at pre–education stage severely abnormal, moderately abnormal, mildly abnormal and normal status was present in 22.22%, 54.44%, 16.67% and 6.67% respectively. The education ought about change in corresponding status to 5.56%, 15.56%, 52.22% and 26.66% respectively. Marked reduction was observed in severely and moderately abnormal category along with significantly positive improvement in mildly abnormal and normal category. It can be concluded that innovative and specific maternal nutritional education module had ought about significant positive improvement in maternal nutrition knowledge and Nutritional status.