The Effect of Health Education on Dietary Knowledge and Practices of Pregnant Women in Jordan: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Socio-Demographic and Obstetric Characteristics of the Study Sample (n = 195)

Variables	Mean (SD)
Age	28.38 (6.18)
Height	159.16 (12.98)
Monthly family income	470.95 (256.63)
Weight before pregancy	61.85 (12.79)
Weight during pregnancy	67.18 (12.13)
Number of pregnancies	4.13 (2.58)
Parity	2.51 (2.14)
Number of abortions	0.68 (0.99)
Number of children	2.55 (2.12)
Hemoglobin during first trimester	11.62 (1.41)

Table 2 Comparison of Socio-Demographic and Obstetric Variables Between the Study Groups Before the Intervention (N= 195)

Variables	Intervention Group Mean (SD)	Control Group Mean (SD)	t	df	p	Mean Differences
Age	29.07 (5.94)	27.73 (6.35)	1.52	193	0.121	1.34
Height	159.60 (6.17)	158.74 (17.13)	0.46	193	0.642	0.86
Monthly family income	490.32 (277.31)	451.60 (235.16)	1.05	193	0.291	38.71
Weight before pregancy	61.83 (10.72)	61.87 (14.55)	−0.02	193	0.983	−0.03
Weight during pregnancy	66.00 (11.49)	68.30 (12.67)	−1.32	193	0.184	−2.29
Number of pregnancies	4.40 (2.55)	3.88 (2.59)	1.41	193	0.162	0.52
Parity	2.66 (2.04)	2.37 (2.23)	0.95	193	0.344	0.29
Number of abortions	0.76 (0.93)	0.60 (1.04)	1.11	193	0.263	0.15
Number of children	2.61 (1.99)	2.50 (2.25)	0.36	193	0.712	0.11
Hb during first trimester*	11.48 (1.29)	11.77 (1.51)	−1.43	193	0.153	−0.29

Note: *Hemoglobin during first trimester.

Figure 1 Total sample size.

Table 3 Dietary Knowledge of Pregnant Women (n = 195)

#	Items	Correct Response	Control Group (n= 100)		Intervention Group (n= 95)
			Pre N (%)	Post N (%)	Pre N (%)	Post N (%)
1	Food is important for the growth and development of the fetus.	Yes	100 (100%)	100 (100%)	94 (98.9%)	95 (100%)
2	Food is important for providing heat, energy, and for the normal functioning of a women’s body.	Yes	98 (98%)	98 (98%)	92 (96.8%)	95 (100%)
3	Food is important for fighting infection or disease.	Yes	92 (92%)	93 (93%)	83 (87.4%)	93 (97.9%)
4	The balanced diet is the diet that contains all the six nutrients such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water.	Yes	95 (95%)	95 (95%)	85 (89.5%)	95 (100%)
5	Women’s diet during pregnancy is different from others.	Yes	87(87%)	87(87%)	78 (82.1%)	93 (97.9%)
6	Causes of undernutrition.	Not consuming enough food	26 (26%)	26 (26%)	29 (30.5%)	87 (91.6%)
		Food does not contain enough nutrients	59 (59%)	59 (59%)	44 (46.3%)	82 (86.3%)
		Others (eg sickness)	26 (26%)	27 (27%)	29 (30.5%)	86 (90.5%)
7	When a diet for pregnant women lacks iron, health risks can occur, including.	Anemia	59 (59%)	58 (58%)	67 (70.5%)	94 (98.9%)
		General weakness	38 (38%)	38 (38%)	29 (30.5%)	95 (100%)
		Difficult delivery	20 (20%)	21(21%)	9 (9.5%)	78 (82.1%)
		Low birth weight	24 (24%)	24 (24%)	8 (8.4%)	75 (78.9%)
8	Examples of food that enhance iron absorption when taken with meals.	Vitamin C-rich food, such as fresh citrus fruits (orange, lemons, etc.)	63 (63%)	63 (63%)	74 (77.9%)	92 (96.8%)
9	Examples of drinks that inhibit iron absorption when taken with meals.	Coffee, tea, Nescafé, carbonated beverages.	86 (86%)	86 (86%)	90 (94.7%)	95 (100%)
10	Obese women are at an increased risk of several pregnancy problems.	Yes	88 (88%)	88 (88%)	85 (89.5%)	93 (97.9%)
11	If a woman was a normal weight before pregnancy, she should gain weight between 11.5–16.0 kg during pregnancy.	Yes	55 (55%)	55 (55%)	57 (60%)	86 (90.5%)
12	A body mass index of less than 18.5 kg/m^2 is a suitable weight during pregnancy.	No	15 (15%)	15 (15%)	13 (13.7%)	19 (20%)
13	Inadequate diet can cause miscarriage and stillbirth.	Yes	52 (52%)	52 (52%)	65 (68.4)	89 (93.7%)
14	Grains, vegetables (such as roots &tubers), fruits, honey, sugar, milk are some examples of carbohydrate-source food.	Yes	68 (68%)	68 (68%)	67 (70.5%)	93 (97.9%)
15	Egg, milk and milk products, meat and products, fish and poultry, beans, lentils, soybeans, and chickpeas are good examples of protein-source food.	Yes	92 (92%)	92 (92%)	86 (90.5%)	94 (98.9%)
16	Meat, fish, poultry, dried beans, peas, lentils, and some fruits and vegetables are some examples of iron-source food.	Yes	84 (84%)	84 (84%)	78 (82.1%)	94 (98.9%)
17	Carrot, cabbage, mango, red pepper, liver, fish, egg yolks, and dairy products are good examples of vitamin A-source food.	Yes	73 (73%)	73 (73%)	72 (75.8%)	89 (93.7%)
18	Seafood such as fish and food fortified by iodine are good examples of iodine-source food.	Yes	81 (81%)	81 (81%)	82 (86.3%)	95 (100%)

Table 4 Independent-Samples t-Test Between the Intervention Group and the Control Group Before and After the Health Education (n = 195)

	Intervention Group Mean (SD)	Control Group Mean (SD)	t	df	p	Mean Difference
Before:
Total dietary Knowledge	14.60 (2.53)	14.38 (2.08)	0.66	193	0.50	0.22
Total dietary practice	6.69 (1.97)	7.02 (1.66)	−1.24	193	0.21	−.32
After:
Total dietary Knowledge	19.30 (0.88)	14.36 (2.11)	21.12	193	0.000	4.94
Total dietary practice	8.70 (1.16)	7.02 (1.66)	8.15	193	0.000	1.68

Table 5 Dietary Practices of Pregnant Women (n = 195)

#	Items	Correct Response	Control Group		Intervention Group
			Pre N (%)	Post N (%)	Pre N (%)	Post N (%)
1	Do you skip any meal during the current pregnancy?	No	47 (47%)	47 (47%)	31 (32.6%)	68 (71.6%)
2	Do you take additional meals during the current pregnancy?	Yes	45 (45%)	45 (45%)	48 (50.5%)	57 (60%)
3	Do you take iron supplements during the current pregnancy?	Yes	84 (84%)	84 (84%)	75 (78.9%)	91 (95.8%)
4	Do you eat carbohydrate-rich food such as (bread, rice, pasta, or potatoes) daily during the current pregnancy?	Yes	64 (64%)	64 (64%)	58 (61.1%)	95 (100%)
5	Do you eat protein-rich food such as (chicken, meat, yogurt, milk, or eggs) daily during the current pregnancy?	Yes	60 (60%)	60 (60%)	54 (56.8%)	89 (93.7%)
6	Do you eat fresh vegetables daily during the current pregnancy?	Yes	83 (83%)	83 (83%)	73 (76.8%)	91 (95.8%)
7	Do you eat fruits daily during the current pregnancy?	Yes	66 (66%)	66 (66%)	60 (63.2%)	74 (77.9%)
8	Do you follow your weight during pregnancy?	Yes	82 (82%)	82 (82%)	76 (80%)	86 (90.5%)
9	Do you reduce caffeine intake (tea or coffee) during the current pregnancy?	Yes	74 (74%)	74 (74%)	68 (71.6%)	84 (88.4%)
10	Do you smoke during the current pregnancy?	No	97 (97%)	97 (97%)	93 (97.9%)	92 (96.8%)