Obstetrics Outcome after a Nutritional Health Education Program for Pregnant Females at Zagazig University Hospitals; An Interventional Study

Abstract

Background: Nutrition during pregnancy is an important element for the pregnant women and their developing fetus, they must take enough calories and nutrients to provide the essential requirements for both themselves and their fetus and to prevent complications of abnormal weight gain in pregnancy. Objectives: To determine the effect of the nutritional health education program on changing knowledge, attitude, and practice towards a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy, obtaining optimal weight gain and consequently its effect on maternal and fetal outcomes. Subjects and Methods: An interventional study (pre-post test), in Zagazig university antenatal care outpatient clinic was conducted. Subjects' Criteria: 135 pregnant females in the first trimester aged 18-35 years who did not have any chronic medical disorder with Body Mass Index between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2 were enrolled. Methods: Data collection was done using a semi-structured questionnaire about females’ socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric, family and clinical history. Health education sessions were applied to the pregnant females and their knowledge, attitude, and practice about healthy nutrition were assessed before and after the intervention. Ultrasound was performed, maternal and fetal outcomes were detected. Results: This study was conducted on 135 pregnant females from whom 9 cases had excluded at the time of delivery due to the detection of ultrasound abnormalities and 16 women were dropped out during the follow-up period. After the nutritional education program, the proportions of adequate knowledge, attitude, and practice were increased from (28.2% to 77.3%), (8.2% to 75.5%) and (32.7% to 77.3%) respectively (p-value <0.001). There was a statistically significant higher cesarean section, Intra and post-partum complications (85.7%vs 42.9%p<0.001), (71.4% vs17.2% p<0.001) and (25.7%vs7.1% p=0.008) [Odds (95% C.I); 8 (6.7-11.3), 12.1(11.7-13.9) and 4.5(1.2-8.7)], higher neonatal weight and neonatal blood glucose (p<0.001& 0.009) in over-weight versus optimal weight gain groups respectively. Conclusion: The intervention was effective in increasing pregnant females’ knowledge, attitude, and practice towards healthy nutrition during pregnancy, obtaining optimal weight gain and improving maternal and fetal outcomes.

Effectiveness of nutrition counseling for pregnant women in low‐ and middle‐income countries to improve maternal and infant behavioral, nutritional, and health outcomes: A systematic review

“…Eight studies were conducted in Africa, two including African population from multiple countries (Nyamasege et al, 2021 ; Nyamasege et al, 2018 ), one in Ethiopia (Demilew et al, 2020 ), two in Malawi (Katenga‐Kaunda et al, 2021 ; Ziyenda Katenga‐Kaunda et al, 2020 ), one in Kenya (Isrctn, 2017 ), one in Benin (Villalon et al, 2010 ) and one in Egypt (Abdel‐Aziz et al, 2018 ). Twenty‐eight studies were conducted in Asia; 12 took place in Iran (Kiani Asiabar et al, 2018 ; Goodarzi‐Khoigani et al, 2018 ; Izadirad et al, 2017 ; Jahangiri et al, 2020 ; Kamalifard et al, 2012 ; Khoramabadi et al, 2015 ; Kian et al, 2016 ; Mazloomy‐Mahmoodabad et al, 2020 ; Mirmolaei et al, 2009 ; Mohsenzadeh‐Ledari et al, 2020 ; Saadatnia et al, 2021 ; Sharifirad et al, 2013 ), six in China (Jing et al, 2015 ; Lin et al, 2020 ; Liu et al, 2009 ; Liu et al, 2017 ; Tu et al, 2021 ; Zhou & Tang, 2020 ), three in India (Daniel et al, 2016 ; Garg & Kashyap, 2006 ; Sachdeva & Mann, 1994 ), two Turkey (Aşcı & Rathfisch, 2016 ; Kanber et al, 2011 ), two in Indonesia (Nahrisah et al, 2020 ; Permatasari et al, 2021 ), one in Malaysia (Soliman et al, 2019 ), one in Bangladesh (Jahan et al, 2014 ), on in Jordan (Abu‐Baker et al, 2021 ) and one in Nepal (Sunuwar et al, 2019 ).…”