title: A study exploring midwives' education in, knowledge of and attitudes to nutrition in pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to explore midwives' education in, knowledge of and attitudes to nutrition in pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  survey using questionnaire and interview schedule.
  
  
  METHODS
  a randomly selected sample of 77 Registered Midwives.
  
  
  METHODS
  one English regional health authority.
  
  
  RESULTS
  qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Midwife teachers were responsible for 95% of teaching in nutrition. 86% of midwives had received no education in nutrition following qualification. 46% of midwives achieved a poor score in nutrition knowledge. Considerable numbers of midwives felt unprepared to offer dietary advice to women from ethnic minority groups (36%), vegetarians (66%) and to women with pre-existing medical conditions (41%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  midwives require more education in nutrition both during basic education and following qualification. IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATION PRACTICE: nutritional issues should be included in continuing education programmes available to qualified midwives.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mulliner
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spiby
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires