Abstract
Background
The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE) for pregnancy provides a number of food- and nutrition-related recommendations to assist pregnant women in optimizing their dietary behavior. However, there are limited data demonstrating pregnant women’s knowledge of the AGHE recommendations. This study investigated Australian pregnant women’s knowledge of the AGHE and related dietary recommendations for maintaining a healthy pregnancy. The variations in nutrition knowledge were compared with demographic characteristics.
Methods
A cross-sectional study assessed eight different nutrition knowledge domains and the demographic characteristics of pregnant women. Four hundred women across Australia completed a multidimensional online survey based on validated and existing measures.
Results
More than half of the pregnant women surveyed (65%) were not familiar with the AGHE recommendations. The basic recommendations to eat more fruit, vegetables, bread, and cereals but less meat were poorly understood. An in-depth investigation of knowledge of nutrition information revealed misconceptions in a range of areas, including standard serving size, nutrients content of certain foods, energy density of fat, and the importance of key nutrients in pregnancy. Univariate analysis revealed significant demographic variation in nutrition knowledge scores. Multiple regression analysis confirmed the significant independent effects on respondents’ nutrition knowledge score (P<0.000) of the education level, income, age, stage of pregnancy, language, and having a health/nutrition qualification. The model indicated that independent variables explained 33% (adjusted R2) of the variance found between respondents’ knowledge scores.
Conclusion
Australian pregnant women’s knowledge regarding AGHE for pregnancy and other key dietary recommendations is poor and varies significantly with their demographic profile. The setting of dietary guidelines is not sufficient to ensure improvement in their nutrition knowledge. It is essential that women receive support to achieve optimal and healthy diets during pregnancy.
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to acknowledge the Saudi Arabian Higher Education Ministry for PhD scholarship funding; the South East Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Services, South Western Sydney Local Health District sites, and midwives who assisted with the recruitment of the respondents; all pregnant women who participated in this study; Associate Professor Marijka Batterham for statistical advice; Doctor Joanna Russell for her comments on the primary data analysis stage; Doctor Alexis St George for constructive comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript; Ms Elaine Newby who assisted in the editing of this article; and Doctor Gilly Hendrie for her cooperation and great readiness to help. The abstract of this article with interim findings was presented at the 30th ICM Triennial Congress – MidwivesCitation58 and at the Australian College of Midwives Biennial Conference.Citation59 The current article includes work based on the PhD thesis submitted by the main author, Khlood Bookari, and parts of it have been published.Citation17,Citation60
Author contributions
K Bookari is the main author and is responsible for designing study survey, collecting and analyzing data, writing the initial manuscript, and revisions. All authors contributed toward data analysis, drafting and critically revising the paper and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.