A STUDY ON  HEALTH AWARENESS DURING PREGNANCY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT

 

Bhavya. P1, Somashekar2

P.G Department of Social Work JSS College of Art’s Commerce and Science, Ooty Road Mysore, India

bhavya.p.nayak@gmail.com1, mswsomashekar@gmail.com2

 

KEYWORDS

ABSTRACT

pregnancy, health, woman.

Pregnancy is the period in the life of an adult woman, lasting approximately nine months, during which the fetus, i.e., the baby, grows inside her body. Certain physiological changes occur in a woman's body to support the growing fetus. The fetus obtains all the necessary nutrients for its growth from the mother's body through the placenta. Therefore, pregnancy is a period characterized by morphological, anatomical, and physiological changes accompanied by high nutritional requirements. The objective of this study was to identify and analyze health awareness during pregnancy in the Chamarajanagara district. The research methodology employed in this study was purposive, and the researcher has over 10 years of experience in the Department of Social Work at Chamarajanagara University, Suvarnagangotri, Chamarajanagara. The study results indicated that pregnant women provided information on their highest educational qualifications, emphasizing the importance of food for the health of both the pregnant woman and her baby. Consequently, pregnant women consume a significant amount of non-vegetarian food, and it was found that a healthy eating pattern is crucial for facilitating easy childbirth. This research has implications in terms of providing a better understanding of health awareness during pregnancy, formulating public policies, and establishing a foundation for the development of educational programs and health promotion initiatives aimed at enhancing health awareness during pregnancy.

DOI: 10.58860/ijsh.v2i6.64

 

Corresponding Author: Bhavya. P

Email: bhavya.p.nayak@gmail.com


INTRODUCTION

The unique nature of pregnancy is serious about the fact that at no other time is the well-being of another person dependent on it (Fletcher, 2016). The importance of nutrition in pregnancy is evident from the fact that maternal and foetal tissues are formed from nutrients that originated in the mother’s diet or an individual environmental factor that determines the result of human pregnancy (Langley‐Evans, 2015). The nutritional knowledge status of the pregnant woman during the early weeks of embryological development determines whether this continuing process will take place in a normal life style (Shankar et al., 2017).

Nutrition

Nutrition is the science of nourishing the body (Cameron, 2022). It is the relationship between man and his food, which includes not only physiological and biochemical aspects but also psychological and social dimensions. Nutrition is a wide term that is also concerned with the economic, cultural, and psychological implications of food and eating (Gostin & McNamara, 2023). Natural food fulfills all these functions. We need a variety of foods to meet the nutritional requirements of the body. In order to maintain the health of pregnant women, one needs a variety of foods (Maugliani & Baldi, 2023). So that all functions are performed well. Such a diet, called a balanced diet, is very important during pregnancy (Gueimonde et al., 2022). The foods are classified into three major categories depending upon the functions they perform (Young et al., 2020).

Foods for Energy

Foods for energy during pregnancy include cereals like wheat, rice, jowar, maize, and bajra, sugar and fats and oils like ghee, vegetable oil, butter and vanaspati (Piccoli et al., 2023). Foods for energy during pregnancy are very essential as energy is required for essential body functions (Thayer et al., 2020). Growth and physical activities. It is, therefore, important to include energy- giving foods in the daily diets of young children.

Foods for growth and maintenance

Proteins are required for the growth and maintenance of the body (Martins et al., 2021). Pregnant females and lactating mothers require additional amounts of protein for the proper growth and development of the foetus and infants (Elango & Ball, 2016). All legumes, pulses, peas, beans, and nuts are good sources of protein during pregnancy. Animal sources like milk and milk products, eggs, meat, fish, etc. are the rich sources of protein. Cereals also contain proteins in smaller amounts (Hughes et al., 2022).

Foods for protection against diseases

Certain foods are required for proper functioning and protection of the body. These foods contain important nutrients like minerals and vitamins (Domínguez Díaz et al., 2020). Inadequate intake of vitamins and minerals may lead to a number of deficiency disorders (Matthewman & Costa-Pinto, 2023).

Importance of Nutrition:

Pre Conception:

a.    The health of the newborn baby depends on the nutritional status of the mother.  Nutritional mother before conception enters pregnancy with nutrients that can meet the needs of the growing foetus without affecting her health.

b.   Maternal nutrition plays a role in feto-placental unforced abortions, so modification is important before conception.

c.    Folic acid supplementation can be reduced because of a neural tube defect.

d.   Overweight mothers can have complicated pregnancies.

The following risk factors exist:

a.    Low socioeconomic status.

b.   Low pre-pregnancy weight for height

c.    Biological immaturity; low weight gain during pregnancy

d.   Smoking, use of drugs, use of drugs, alcohol, etc.

e.    Infectious diseases, hypertension

After Conception:

a.    A poorly nourished mother's placenta contains more fever and fewer cells than a well-nourished mother's placenta.

b.   This reduces the ability of the placenta to arrange the substances required.

c.    Poor diet during pregnancy is also very harmful to the mother’s health.

d.   During pregnancy take risk also complications.

e.    Inadequate diet also affects the health of the baby during early infancy.

Nutritional needs:

a.    A pregnant mother has to meet her own needs and the needs of her growing foetus.

b.   The nutrient needs are also increased in view of the development of maternal organs such as the uterus, placenta, and breast tissue, as well as the accumulation of body reserves to be utilized at the time of delivery and subsequently during lactation.

c.    Energy

d.   Proteins and essential fatty acids

e.    Carbohydrates

The purpose of the study is together information on health awareness during pregnancy with special reference to Chamarajanagara district.

 

METHOD

The respondents for this study include students from the social work department at  chamarajanagara university suvarnagangotri chamarajanagara and another rural participant. This research is based on purposive research where the researcher has prepared a selfconstructed questionnaire on  Google form to find out the various parameters of health awareness during pregnancy with special reference to Chamarajanagara district.The questionnaire consists of seven statements that have multiple choice. The respondents had to fill the onemultiple-choice option in Google form.

 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

The researcher has ten years of experience in teaching at chamarajanagara university, suvarnagangotri chamarajanagara. This experience created many questions about present postgraduate students and rural participants. Therefore, the aim of conducting this study is to gain knowledge of health awareness during pregnancy with special reference to Chamarajanagara district. Pregnant Women's Health awereness during pregnancy with special reference to Chamarajanagara district.

Table - 1 Shows That Education Level Of Pregnancy

Sl.NO

Option

Respondents

Percentage

1

S.S.L.C

10

33.3

2

P.U.C

12

40

3

Graduate

3

10

4

Post Graduate

5

16.6

 

Total

30

100

 

Figure 1. Educational Level

The table shows 40% of resondents saying that  pregnant women are giving information about highest Qualisfication P.U.C. for pregnant women.

Table 2. shows that knowledge of food sources related to nutrition

Sl.No

Option

Respondents

Percentage

1

Vegitarian

10

33.33

2

Non Vegitarian

20

66.66

 

Total

30

100

 

Figure 2. Food Source

The table shows 66.66% of respondents saying that food is very important to pregnant women and her baby health so pregnant women  highly consume non vegitarian food.

Table 3. shows that relationship between diet and diseases.

Sl.No

Option

Respondents

Percentage

1

Poor diet

12

40

2

Healthy diet

18

60

 

Total

30

100

Figure 3. Diet and Diseases

The table shows that 60 percentage of respondents saying that healthy diet is most needed to pregnant women easily delivery to baby and pregnant health so.

 

Table 4. Shows that weight control in pregnancy

Sl.No

Option

Respondents

Percentage

1

Healthy food

8

26.66

2

Nutritional food

8

26.66

3

Fruit and Vegetables

10

33.33

4

Vegetable

4

13.33

 

Total

30

100

 

The table shows that 33.33 percentage respondents consume fruits and vegetables.

Table 5. shows that use of dietary information to make food choice.

Sl.No

Option

Respondents

Percentage

1

Traditional food

25

83.33

3

Modern food

5

16.66

 

Total

30

100

The table shows that 83.33 percentage respondents saying that dietary knowledge is needed/necessary like vitamins. Iron content , yoga and exercise and all.

 

CONCLUSION

The implication of this research is the importance of nutrition and nutritional knowledge for pregnant women in consuming healthy food and maintaining a good diet for the baby's health. As a basis for more intensive education and awareness about nutrition during pregnancy, the results of this research can be used to influence policy changes and programs related to nutrition and diet during pregnancy.

 

REFERENCES

Cameron, N. (2022). Chapter 7 - Nutrition and growth (N. Cameron & L. M. B. T.-H. G. and D. (Third E. Schell (eds.); pp. 177–201). Academic Press. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-822652-0.00008-0

Domínguez Díaz, L., Fernández-Ruiz, V., & Cámara, M. (2020). The frontier between nutrition and pharma: The international regulatory framework of functional foods, food supplements and nutraceuticals. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 60(10), 1738–1746. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2019.1592107

Elango, R., & Ball, R. O. (2016). Protein and amino acid requirements during pregnancy. Advances in Nutrition, 7(4), 839S-844S. https://doi.org/10.3945/an.115.011817

Fletcher, G. (2016). The philosophy of well-being: An introduction. Routledge.

Gostin, A.-I., & McNamara, P. (2023). Chapter 18 - Cross-cultural perspectives on nutrition and health claims (D. Ghosh, D. Bogueva, & R. B. T.-N. S. Smarta  Marketing Nutrition, Health Claims, and Public Policy (eds.); pp. 245–258). Academic Press. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-85615-7.00015-X

Gueimonde, M., Collado, M. C., & Rodríguez, J. M. (2022). 3.05 - Diet and Microbiota During Pregnancy (M. B. T.-C. G. M. Glibetic (ed.); pp. 44–54). Elsevier. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-819265-8.00087-5

Hughes, J., Pearson, E., & Grafenauer, S. (2022). Legumes—a comprehensive exploration of global food-based dietary guidelines and consumption. Nutrients, 14(15), 3080. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14153080

Langley‐Evans, S. C. (2015). Nutrition in early life and the programming of adult disease: a review. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 28, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12212

Martins, A. A., Härter, C. J., Batista, N. V, Carvalho, G., Bernardes, G. M. C., Macari, S., Kozloski, G. V, & Pires, C. C. (2021). Protein requirements for maintenance and growth of Corriedale lambs. Livestock Science, 244, 104395. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104395

Matthewman, M. C., & Costa-Pinto, R. (2023). Macronutrients, minerals, vitamins and energy. Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine, 24(2), 134–138. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mpaic.2022.12.009

Maugliani, A., & Baldi, F. (2023). Surveys as a valid tool for assessing food safety knowledge amongst pregnant women in high-income countries: a rapid review. Reproductive Toxicology, 119, 108411. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2023.108411

Piccoli, G. B., Avesani, C. M., Leone, F., & Attini, R. (2023). Pregnancy, Healthy Eating, and CKD: “Eat Food, Not Too Much, Mainly Plants.” Kidney International Reports, 8(4), 944–945. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ekir.2023.01.023

Shankar, B., Agrawal, S., Beaudreault, A. R., Avula, L., Martorell, R., Osendarp, S., Prabhakaran, D., & Mclean, M. S. (2017). Dietary and nutritional change in India: implications for strategies, policies, and interventions. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1395(1), 49–59. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.13324

Thayer, Z. M., Rutherford, J., & Kuzawa, C. W. (2020). The maternal nutritional buffering model: An evolutionary framework for pregnancy nutritional intervention. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 2020(1), 14–27. https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoz037

Young, M. F., Nguyen, P., Tran, L. M., Avula, R., & Menon, P. (2020). A double edged sword? Improvements in economic conditions over a decade in India led to declines in undernutrition as well as increases in overweight among adolescents and women. The Journal of Nutrition, 150(2), 364–372. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxz251

 

https://jurnal.syntax-idea.co.id/public/site/images/idea/88x31.png

© 2023 by the authors. It was submitted for possible open-access publication under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY SA) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).