title: [Dietary knowledge and practice in pregnant women].
abstract: The objective of the study was to evaluate the level of knowledge about the influence of diet during pregnancy on the development and health of a child, among pregnant women in relation to their eating habits. The diet of a woman before and during pregnancy has immense influence on the course of pregnancy and health of a child--both after its delivery and in the future. Lack of dietary knowledge and the knowledge about consequences of malnutrition among future mothers may result in a lot of dietary indiscretion, which in turn can cause deficiency or excess of energy and particular nutrients, as well as abnormal course of pregnancy. Hence, for keeping a proper diet during pregnancy a woman must not only know the healthy eating guidelines, but also realise how a diet influences the course of pregnancy and child's health. The study was conducted with the use of 3 specially prepared questionnaires, among 77 women in the III trimester of pregnancy, participating in the Parturition School course. The first questionnaire referred to general data (age, education, antropometric data) and the way of supplementing diet with medicinal compounds supplying vitamins and minerals. The second questionnaire showed the dietary habits before pregnancy, while the third questioned the influence of diet on the course of pregnancy and health of the infant. In the second stage the eating habits of the subjects were studied also with the use of a 24-hour interview and an album of food products issued by the Institute of Food and Nutrition. Summing it up, the analysis of the results of the study showed that though pregnancy is a difficult period for a woman, it did not make the subjects pay particular attention to their diet. The study showed also that the majority of women does have knowledge on the influence of diet and the influence of her nourishment before pregnancy on the development of foetus, however, it hardly results in the change of their eating habits.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Upowszechniania Wiedzy o Zywności i Zywieniu Instytut Zywności i Zywienia 02-903 Warszawa, ul. Powsińska 61/63.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kozłowska-Wojciechowska
authors.forename: Magdalena Makarewicz
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Wujec
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires