Manipal Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences
Designation
MSc Nursing Student (OBG Nursing)
Government Nursing College Kannur, Kerala, India
Abstract
Introduction: Anemia in pregnancy is a significant public health concern in the developing countries like India. Objectives: The present study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and determine the dietary predictors of anemia among antenatal mothers. Method: A descriptive cross sectional research design was adopted for the study. Consecutive sampling technique was used to select 400 antenatal mothers. Data was collected by questionnaire, rating scale and check list and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The prevalence of anemia among antenatal mothers was estimated as 24.84%. Within the sample 58% had mild anemia, 39.5% had moderate anemia and 02.5% had severe anemia. There was a highly significant association between anemia and various dietary predictors. The study disclosed that 23.5% of antenatal mothers had insufficient consumption of diverse diet. Seventy-six percentage (76%) of antenatal mothers was consuming a sufficient amount of a diverse diet, while only 0.5% of antenatal mothers had an adequate consumption of a diverse diet. Majority of antenatal mothers (80%) had a high dietary diversity ensuring adequate nutrient intake, while 20% of antenatal mothers had low dietary diversity indicating inadequate consumption of a variety of foods that provide sufficient nutrients. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for antenatal mothers to prioritize a diverse diet and maintain adequate hemoglobin levels for a positive pregnancy outcome.