Abstract
The menace of maternal morbidity and mortality has remained a major maternal and child health problem in developing countries and
prominent among the risk factors is inadequate dietary practice in pregnancy. The study assessed factors influencing dietary practices
among pregnant women in Adeoyo Maternity Hospital Yemetu, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The study adopted a descriptive research survey. The populations were 626 pregnant women attending Adeoyo Maternity Hospital,
Ibadan Oyo State. Sample size was determined using solvin’s formula and simple random technique through was used to select 244
pregnant women. A researcher-designed questionnaire was used to obtain data on factors influencing dietary practice among pregnant
women. Data was processed using statistical package for social science version 21.Three research questions were answered using
descriptive statistics of percentage while three hypotheses were tested using chi square at 0.05 level of significance.
Majority 75% of the pregnant women had moderate knowledge level concerning dietary practice during pregnancy, 58.2% agreed that
cultural belief influence dietary practice while 50.8% agreed that religious belief influence dietary practice. There is no significant
relationship between participants knowledge regarding dietary intake and dietary practice (p= 0.200). There is no significant
relationship between participants level of education and dietary practice (p= 0.077).There is significant relationship between monthly
income and dietary practice (p= 0.001).
Pregnant women have moderate knowledge level about dietary practice and monthly income significantly influence dietary practice.
Nurses should educate pregnant women about cost effective dietary practice
