Food and Nutrient Intake of Pregnant Women of the out Patient Department of General Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated nutrient intake and the prevalence of nutrient inadequacy among pregnant women who attended antenatal clinic in General Hospital Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, and assess factors associated with nutrient inadequacy. Pregnant women who attended prenatal clinic in general Hospital Calabar, Nigeria was surveyed. Nutrient intake was estimated based on information provided by the women on the amount, type and frequency of various foods eaten. The survey showed that 33% 0f the respondents were under weight, 55.3% had normal BMI and 41.3% of the pregnant women were overweight. The respondents who prefer rice and noodles were 44%, 84% of the respondents like hot food, 12.0% like cold food, while 4.0% like both hot and cold food and 71% of them had no food preference. The respondents met 41.9% of Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for energy. Maternal age, educational level, gestational age at enrolment, and pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) were significantly associated with inadequacy of nutrients intake. The study showed that only 41.9% of the respondents met the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for energy, while more than 5% had normal Body Mass Index (BMI).

KEYWORDS: Nutrients, Pregnant, Dietary, Prevalence, Women.