Causes And Effects Of Malnutrition Among Pregnant Women In Onna Local Government Area

This study was carried out to examine the causes and effect of malnutrition on pregnant women in Onna Local Government Area. To guide this work, three objectives and hypotheses were sets and formulated: to identify the causes of malnutrition among pregnant women; to determine the effects of malnutrition among pregnant women; and to established measures of preventing malnutrition among pregnant women in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Related literatures were reviewed on the major variables. Descriptive survey design was used for the study.

The sample size of 100 respondents was selected using simple random sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire. Chi-square (c2) was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that the causes of malnutrition during pregnancy include ignorance and illiteracy, cultural and dietary practices, poverty and food prices and unemployment. Findings also revealed some measures to prevent malnutrition during pregnancy which include legislative action, education, provisions of portable water among others. Based on these findings, conclusion was drawn and recommendations were made among others that Health Workers should counsel pregnant women properly during antenatal clinic on the classes of food, and their importance during pregnancy; Government should provide agricultural facilities to the farmers to increase agricultural production where the price of food will be affordable to poor pregnant women; also Government/Non-Governmental Organizations should embark on women empowerment to eradicate poverty.