ASSESSMENTS OF THE NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICE, AND STATUS, OF PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING THE ANTENATAL CLINIC IN JOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (J.U.T.H).

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Pregnancy is a physiological state that results when a fertilized ovum develops to a neonate within 40 weeks of gestation. It is also a period associated with increased nutritional demand to meet both macro-nutrients and micro-nutrients needed for the wellbeing of the Mother and developing foetus. In Nigeria, 63% of the population are multidimensionally poor1 and this has had a direct effect on the level of illiteracy and nutritional practice of the general population; including pregnant women. Many of these women lack basic knowledge regarding nutrition in pregnancy and coupled with the harsh economy in recent years have led to poor nutritional practices which are detrimental to both Mother and developing foetus. Anthropometry is the measurement of the size, weight, and proportions of the body. Common anthropometric measurements include Weight, Height, Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC), Head Circumference, and skin fold thickness. Assessing the anthropometry during the reproductive period, especially during pregnancy, is a widely used method that requires few resources and is likely to provide a valid assessment of nutritional status during pregnancy.2, 3 AIM OF THE STUDY To assess the Nutritional knowledge, Practices and status of pregnant women attending Antenatal Services in Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos. METHODOLOGY The study is a descriptive Cross – Sectional study, a convenient sampling technique was used. A total of 221 pregnant women attending their Antenatal Clinic in J.U.T.H, completed the study. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaire and was analysed sing Epi Info version 3.5.4 software. Chi-square test was used as Test of Significance based on a P-value of less than or equal to 0.05. RESULTS Of the 221 respondents that successfully completed the research, most (66.5%) had good nutritional knowledge, 84.6% had adequate nutritional practice, 42.4% had normal Body Mass Index (B.M.I) and 92.8% had normal Mid-Upper-Arm Circumference (M.U.A.C). 7.2% were moderately malnourished (MUAC