Dietary Practices, Morbidity and Nutrition Status of Pregnant Students in Tertiary Institutions in Machakos County, Kenya
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Date
2021
Authors
Wangui, Florence
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
A pregnant woman’s dietary practice is critical to her health as well as to expected pregnancy outcomes. Inadequate dietary practices lead to poor health of the mother and the foetus. Pregnant students in tertiary institutions face challenges as they have to take care of their studies and at the same time the pregnancy state. Malnutrition among pregnant women has long been recognised as a serious problem. However, research on dietary practices and nutrition status of pregnant students in tertiary institutions is limited and therefore, this study attempts to bridge this research gap. The main objective of the study was to assess dietary practices and nutrition status of pregnant students learning in tertiary institutions in Machakos town. A cross sectional analytical design was adopted for this study and 105 pregnant students selected using comprehensive sampling among students attending antenatal clinic (ANC) at Machakos level 5 Referral Hospital. The main data collection tool was a structured questionnaire that collected demographic, socio-economic and morbidity data. Dietary practices was assessed using 24-hour dietary recall, dietary diversity and food frequency questionnaire. The Mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and full Haemogram level of the students was measured using adult MUAC tape and Haematology analyser respectively to determine the nutrition status. Weight gain from ANC attendance record was used as secondary data. A focus group discussion guide was used to collect qualitative data. Data was analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Dietary data was analysed using Nutrisurvey. Dietary score was analysed using the MDDW guideline of reproductive age that recommended consumption of ≥5 out of 10 food groups as acceptable. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the dietary practices of the participants. The mean age of participants was 23.5± 2 years, 39.1% were in their second year, and 60.1% were in third trimester of pregnancy. The dietary diversity score (DDS) was 5.26 ± 1.12, the nutrient intake was insufficient for all the nutrients with vitamin C and carbohydrates being the highest consumed with 70.5% and 68.0% of the participants meeting the recommended daily allowance (RDA) respectively, folate was the least consumed nutrient with only 1% of the participants meeting the RDA. The participants who had consumed a DDS of ≥5 were 38.2% while 61.5% consumed ≤5 food groups, 19% of the pregnant students skipped meals especially breakfast. There was low consumption of animal based protein and iron rich food. Additionally, the findings revealed that 31.4%, 22.9% and 81.3% of the participants were undernourished based on MUAC, haemoglobin (Hb) level and weight gain, respectively. There was association between nutrition status and maternal demographic factors; MUAC and age (r=0.22, p=0.02), Hb level and age (r=0.16, p<0.01). Haemoglobin level had a significant relationship with dietary diversity (r=0.23, p=0.01. For the categorical variables, Chi square test was used and revealed that Hb level was significantly associated with socio-economic factors (monthly rent paid X2=13.84, p=0.01) and Hb level and morbidity status (X2=4.42, p=0.03). The study concludes that the dietary practices of the pregnant students were inadequate. This led to poor nutrition status which is a result of inadequate pocket money to purchase food, limited time to prepare food and poor choice of meals. The study recommends the ANC staff to encourage pregnant students to pack meal to realise the RDA of energy and iron, integrating of nutrition education in higher education levels as a basic unit to help students have better dietary practices and counselling of the female students to reduce pregnancy rates in tertiary institutions.
Description
A Research Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Science (Food, Nutrition and Dietetics) In the School of Public Health and Applied Human Sciences of Kenyatta University, November, 2021
Keywords
Dietary Practices, Morbidity, Nutrition Status, Pregnant Students, Tertiary Institutions, Machakos County, Kenya