Assessment Of Nutritional Knowledge And Practice On The Health Of Pregnant
[A CASE STUDY OF WOMEN IN MAYO-DASSA JALINGO, TARABA STATE]

This study was carried out to assess the nutritional knowledge practices on the health of pregnant women in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State. Specifically, the study assessed the knowledge of pregnant mothers with regard to maternal nutrition, determined the extent nutritional practices are carried out by pregnant women in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State, examined the effects of malnutrition on the health of pregnant women in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State and, examined the nutritional challenges pregnant women in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State face. The study employed the survey descriptive research design. A total of 141 responses were validated from the survey. The study adopted the Pender’s Health Promotion Model. From the responses obtained and analysed, the findings on the effects of malnutrition on the health of pregnant women in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State include obstructed labour, premature or low-birth-weight babies, postpartum haemorrhage and, anaemia. Furthermore, the findings revealed that most pregnant women’s are knowledgeable about maternal nutrition. The findings further revealed that the extent of nutritional practices carried out by pregnant women in Mayo-Dassa Jalingo, Taraba State is very high. The study recommends that health talks should be encouraged on each antenatal day and nurses should put more emphasis on nutrition.