Effects of Nutrition Education on General Health and Nutrition Status of Pregnant Women

Nutrition education improves maternal nutrition and reduces the risk of poor health outcomes in both mothers and their children. The relationship between maternal nutrition education and mother's nutritional knowledge score, dietary habits, food consumption and health status (hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood pressure and body weight gain) were the subject of investigation in this study. This study has been conducted by random sampling on 150 low income pregnant women between the ages of 18-35, in intervention and control groups. Data was collected at an initial interview and again at a final interview after two nutrition education programs.There were significant increases in the nutritional knowledge score and mean intake of calcium, iron, vitamin A and weight gain in the intervention group (p<0.05),also increases on mean intake of energy, protein and vitamin C. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in the intervention group did not appear to be influenced by the nutrition education. The results indicate that nutrition counseling during pregnancy can improve dietary intake and maternal weight gain.