Investigate the Relationship between Knowledge of Pregnant Women about Nutrition and Other Health Outcomes

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 20 views

Relationship of Knowledge of Pregnant Women About Nutrition with Nutritional Status of Pregnant Trimester III In Midwifery Poly Hospital Langsa City in 2014

Introduction

Pregnancy is a critical period in a woman's life, where proper nutrition plays a vital role in ensuring the health and well-being of both the mother and the baby. However, many pregnant women in Indonesia lack adequate knowledge about nutrition, which can lead to various health problems, including low birth weight (LBW) infants. According to the Indonesian Ministry of Health, the prevalence of LBW infants in 2010 reached 8.8%. This alarming rate highlights the need to understand the relationship between knowledge of pregnant women about nutrition and their nutritional status, particularly in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Background

The third trimester of pregnancy is a critical period where the fetus grows rapidly, and the mother's nutritional status can significantly impact the baby's health. A lack of chronic energy (KEK) is a common risk factor for pregnant women, especially those between 15 to 49 years old. This risk is further exacerbated by inadequate knowledge about nutrition, which can lead to poor dietary choices and inadequate nutrient intake. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the relationship between knowledge of pregnant women about nutrition and their nutritional status in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Research Methodology

This study employed a descriptive correlation design to investigate the relationship between knowledge of pregnant women about nutrition and their nutritional status in the third trimester of pregnancy. A consecutive sampling technique was used to select 87 respondents from the Midwifery Poly of Langsa City Hospital. Data analysis was carried out using the Pearson Chi Square statistical test to determine the relationship between nutritional knowledge and the nutritional status of pregnant women.

Research Result

The results of this study showed that the majority of respondents (47.1%) lacked adequate knowledge about nutrition. Furthermore, the nutritional status of pregnant women revealed that 43.7% were classified as overweight and obesity. However, among the respondents with good knowledge, 22.2% were in the category of thin nutrition, 59.3% were normal, and 18.5% were overweight and obesity. In contrast, among the respondents with sufficient knowledge, 10.5% were thin nutrition, 31.6% were normal, and 57.9% were overweight and obesity. Finally, among the respondents with less knowledge, 29.3% were in the category of thin nutrition, 17.1% were normal, and 53.7% were overweight and obesity.

The results of the Pearson Chi Square statistical test showed a significant relationship between the knowledge of pregnant women about nutrition and their nutritional status in the third trimester, with a P value of 0.002.

Conclusion

This study concluded that there was a significant relationship between the knowledge of pregnant women about nutrition and the nutritional status of pregnant women in the third trimester. Therefore, it is essential for health workers to improve health education about nutrition to pregnant women. Providing good counseling, as well as distributing leaflets about nutrition, can help improve the understanding of pregnant women and support the health of their mother and baby. These steps are expected to reduce the prevalence of LBW and other health risks caused by lack of nutritional knowledge during pregnancy.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Health Education: Health workers should provide regular health education about nutrition to pregnant women, focusing on the importance of proper nutrition during pregnancy.
Counseling: Pregnant women should receive individualized counseling on nutrition, taking into account their individual needs and circumstances.
Distribution of Leaflets: Leaflets about nutrition should be distributed to pregnant women, providing them with accurate and reliable information about nutrition during pregnancy.
Monitoring and Evaluation: The nutritional status of pregnant women should be regularly monitored and evaluated to ensure that they are receiving adequate nutrition.

By implementing these recommendations, health workers can help improve the nutritional status of pregnant women and reduce the prevalence of LBW and other health risks caused by lack of nutritional knowledge during pregnancy.

Limitations

This study had several limitations, including:

Sample Size: The sample size was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Sampling Technique: The consecutive sampling technique used may not be representative of the entire population of pregnant women in the Midwifery Poly of Langsa City Hospital.
Data Analysis: The Pearson Chi Square statistical test used may not be the most appropriate test for analyzing the relationship between knowledge of pregnant women about nutrition and their nutritional status.

Future Research Directions

Future research should aim to:

Investigate the Relationship between Knowledge of Pregnant Women about Nutrition and Other Health Outcomes: Future studies should investigate the relationship between knowledge of pregnant women about nutrition and other health outcomes, such as birth weight, gestational age, and maternal mortality.
Develop Effective Health Education Programs: Future studies should aim to develop effective health education programs that can improve the knowledge and behavior of pregnant women about nutrition.
Evaluate the Effectiveness of Health Education Programs: Future studies should evaluate the effectiveness of health education programs in improving the knowledge and behavior of pregnant women about nutrition.

By addressing these limitations and future research directions, health workers can develop more effective strategies to improve the nutritional status of pregnant women and reduce the prevalence of LBW and other health risks caused by lack of nutritional knowledge during pregnancy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Relationship between Knowledge of Pregnant Women about Nutrition and Nutritional Status

Q: What is the significance of this study?

A: This study is significant because it investigates the relationship between knowledge of pregnant women about nutrition and their nutritional status in the third trimester of pregnancy. The findings of this study can help health workers develop effective strategies to improve the nutritional status of pregnant women and reduce the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) and other health risks caused by lack of nutritional knowledge during pregnancy.

Q: What is the main finding of this study?

A: The main finding of this study is that there is a significant relationship between knowledge of pregnant women about nutrition and their nutritional status in the third trimester of pregnancy. The study found that pregnant women with good knowledge about nutrition were more likely to have a normal nutritional status, while those with less knowledge were more likely to have an abnormal nutritional status.

Q: What are the implications of this study?

A: The implications of this study are that health workers should provide regular health education about nutrition to pregnant women, focusing on the importance of proper nutrition during pregnancy. Additionally, health workers should provide individualized counseling on nutrition, taking into account the individual needs and circumstances of each pregnant woman.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: The limitations of this study include a relatively small sample size, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, the consecutive sampling technique used may not be representative of the entire population of pregnant women in the Midwifery Poly of Langsa City Hospital.

Q: What are the recommendations of this study?

A: The recommendations of this study include:

Health Education: Health workers should provide regular health education about nutrition to pregnant women, focusing on the importance of proper nutrition during pregnancy.
Counseling: Pregnant women should receive individualized counseling on nutrition, taking into account their individual needs and circumstances.
Distribution of Leaflets: Leaflets about nutrition should be distributed to pregnant women, providing them with accurate and reliable information about nutrition during pregnancy.
Monitoring and Evaluation: The nutritional status of pregnant women should be regularly monitored and evaluated to ensure that they are receiving adequate nutrition.

Q: What are the future research directions of this study?

A: The future research directions of this study include:

Investigating the Relationship between Knowledge of Pregnant Women about Nutrition and Other Health Outcomes: Future studies should investigate the relationship between knowledge of pregnant women about nutrition and other health outcomes, such as birth weight, gestational age, and maternal mortality.
Developing Effective Health Education Programs: Future studies should aim to develop effective health education programs that can improve the knowledge and behavior of pregnant women about nutrition.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Health Education Programs: Future studies should evaluate the effectiveness of health education programs in improving the knowledge and behavior of pregnant women about nutrition.

Q: What are the practical applications of this study?

A: The practical applications of this study include:

Improving the Nutritional Status of Pregnant Women: Health workers can use the findings of this study to develop effective strategies to improve the nutritional status of pregnant women.
Reducing the Prevalence of LBW: Health workers can use the findings of this study to develop effective strategies to reduce the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) and other health risks caused by lack of nutritional knowledge during pregnancy.
Improving Maternal and Child Health: Health workers can use the findings of this study to develop effective strategies to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

Q: What are the policy implications of this study?

A: The policy implications of this study include:

Developing Health Education Programs: Governments and health organizations can develop health education programs that focus on the importance of proper nutrition during pregnancy.
Providing Counseling and Support: Governments and health organizations can provide counseling and support to pregnant women, taking into account their individual needs and circumstances.
Monitoring and Evaluating Nutritional Status: Governments and health organizations can monitor and evaluate the nutritional status of pregnant women to ensure that they are receiving adequate nutrition.