مجله علمی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی کردستان (Mar 2024)
Factors affecting the nutritional behaviour of healthy pregnant women having out of standard weight gain pattern referring to urban and rural health centers in Sanandaj
Abstract
Background and Aim: Adequate and optimal nutrition during pregnancy is important for both pregnant women and their fetuses. The current study was conducted to identify the factors that influence the nutritional behavior of the pregnant women with an inappropriate pattern of weight gain during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study included 423 pregnant women seeking prenatal care in urban and rural comprehensive health service centers in Sanandaj. These women had prenatal care records and exhibited weight gain patterns that deviated from the standard scale during pregnancy.Sampling was performed randomly. Data were collected using questionnaires to investigate the nutritional behavior of the pregnant women and health literacy. Using SPSS version 16 software, data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical tests. Results: The results revealed that among the pregnant mothers examined, 233 (56.7%) consumed three to four portions of fruits daily, while 106 (25.8%) consumed four to five portions of vegetables. 160 women (38.9%) consumed three portions of meat and legumes, 204 (49.6%) consumed seven to eleven portions of bread and grain group, and 135 (32.8%) consumed three to four portions of milk and dairy products. There was a significant relationship between the nutrition pattern of the pregnant mothers and mother's education (p=0.012), husband's education (p=0.045) and health literacy (p=0.0001). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that less than 50% of the women had optimal food consumption in regard to the four main food groups, namely vegetables, meat and beans, bread and cereals, and milk and dairy products, and 56.7% of the women had optimal fruit intake which is indicatve of a relatively unfavorable condition.
