Knowledge, Practice and Perceived Effects of Maternal Nutrition on Birth Outcomes among Clinic Attendees in Ifedayo Local Government Area, Osun State

Maternal nutrition plays a fundamental role in determining pregnancy outcomes and the health status of both the mother and her child. It encompasses the quality and quantity of food and nutrients consumed before conception, during pregnancy, and after childbirth. Adequate maternal nutrition ensures the optimal growth and development of the fetus and reduces the risk of complications such as preterm delivery, low birth weight, and maternal mortality. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the extent of knowledge, dietary practices, and perceived impacts of maternal nutrition on birth outcomes among women attending clinics in Ifedayo LGA, Osun State. The study also aims to identify the socio-demographic factors influencing maternal nutrition behavior.

Descriptive research design of survey type was used for the study. The target population for this study comprises all registered pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in primary health centers in Ifedayo Local Government Area, Osun State. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to sample 357. A researcher developed and validated questionnaire with reliability co-efficient of 0.83, determined through split- half method was used for the study. The questionnaire was administered by the researcher with two research assistants in each ward. Inferential statistics of chi-square was used to analyse the hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level.

The finding of the study were that;   

i..       Maternal nutrition knowledge significantly influence birth outcomes; (cal x^2 =4490.2 >crit. x^(2=)11.070)

ii.       Maternal nutrition practices significantly influence birth outcomes; ( cal.x^2 = 4170.6 >crit. x^(2=)11.070)

iii.      Perceived effects of maternal nutrition significantly influence birth outcomes;(cal.x^2 = 4560.4 >crit. x^(2=)11.070)

The study concluded that: Maternal nutrition knowledge, Maternal nutrition practices, Perceived effects of maternal nutrition, Knowledge, practice, and perceived effects of maternal nutrition and Improvement strategies on maternal nutrition on birth outcomes among clinic attendees in Ifedayo Local Government Area, Osun State. This implies that knowledge, practice and perceived effects of maternal nutrition on birth out comes among clinic attendees. The study, therefore, recommended that Healthcare providers should incorporate targeted health education programmes in to rountine antenatal care to increase knowledge of maternal Nutrition as a determinant of birth out comes.

Keywords: Knowledge, Practice, Perceived Effects, Maternal Nutrition, Birth Outcome.