title: Knowledge and beliefs about nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy in women from South Auckland region, New Zealand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Approximately 60% of women in South Auckland, a culturally diverse region in New Zealand, become pregnant with a high body mass index. However, little is known about these women's knowledge of nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess knowledge of nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy, factors influencing eating habits and the willingness to participate in a nutritional intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 422 women completed the survey in late pregnancy between September and December 2013. Multivariable logistic regression investigated factors associated with infrequent healthy eating, adjusting for ethnicity and gestation at questionnaire completion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ethnicity of participants was Māori (24.2%), Pacific (40.5%), Asian (12.8%) and European/Others (21.8%). Most (95.0%) reported receiving information about healthy eating while pregnant and 61% reported eating healthy frequently or very frequently. Forty-four point three per cent reported eating more in pregnancy; the commonest reasons were cravings and 'eating for two'. The adjusted odd ratios (aORs) indicated that the self-reported factors associated with infrequent healthy eating in this sample were Māori (aOR 17.66; 95% CI 8.49-36.77) and Pacific ethnicity (aOR 14.54; 95% CI 7.32-28.88); parity ≥3 (aOR 2.09; 95%CI 1.26-3.48); obesity (aOR 2.84; 95% CI 1.35-5.97); unplanned pregnancy (aOR 1.95; 95%CI 1.18-3.22); and eating takeaways ≥3 times/week (aOR 4.46; 95%CI 1.88-10.56). Of women sampled, 83.4% would likely/very likely participate in a nutritional intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported factors associated with infrequent healthy eating in pregnancy were identified in this sample. Our findings will assist development of a nutritional intervention for pregnant women in South Auckland.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, South Auckland Clinical School, University of Auckland, and Middlemore Hospital, South Auckland, New Zealand. k.okesene-gafa@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Karaponi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okesene-Gafa
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chelimo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Shireen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.affiliation: Centre of Medical Science Education, School of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henning
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, South Auckland Clinical School and Auckland School of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McCowan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology; D004435:Eating; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: eating habit; ethnic group; nutrition knowledge; pregnancy