Nutrition and diet myths, knowledge and practice during pregnancy and lactation among a sample of Egyptian pregnant women: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Globally, the burden of maternal malnutrition remains an enormous public health problem; malnourished pregnant women are at increased risk of having low-birth-weight (LBW) infants. Several reports suggest a possible association between malnutrition among lactating mothers and the production of smaller quantities of breast milk. Many women have incorrect nutrition knowledge during pregnancy due to false beliefs derived from popular practices. Our study was conducted to assess nutritional knowledge, myths, and practices among Egyptian women during pregnancy and lactation.

Methodology: A pretested 2-page interview questionnaire was used to collect data from the study participants after written informed consent was obtained from them after clarification of the study's aim. Obstetrics and gynecology experts collected the data from pregnant females who agreed to participate in private and university hospital antenatal care clinics in Cairo, Egypt.

Results: A total of 468 pregnant females completed the interview questionnaire. The mean knowledge score was 5 ± 3, with a median score of 5 and an IQR of 3-7, and the mean holding myths score was 3 ± 2, with a median score of 2 and an IQR of 2-4. Regarding the correct answers to the knowledge questions, more than 70% of the participants correctly answered that during the first six months of life, breast milk is the only food a baby requires, and less than 20% of them correctly answered that caffeine consumption could provoke premature birth. Regarding the holding myths questions, more than half of the participants held the myth that drinking moghat and helba increases the breast milk supply. We found that the most common source of knowledge during pregnancy and lactation among the participants was family and friends' advice (60%), followed by others (doctors, previous education in school or university) (45%).

Conclusion: Among a sample of Egyptian women, more than half held at least one myth about nutrition and diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so health education at antenatal outpatient clinics should be directed toward those myths to correct them. Older women with sufficient family income showed significantly higher knowledge scores than others.

Keywords: Lactating women; Nutrition; Pregnancy.

Fig. 1

Percentage distribution of females answering the knowledge statements correctly 1-Caffeine consumption provokes premature birth 2-Folic acid intake should begin before not only during pregnancy 3-Gestational diabetes increases future risk of type 2 diabetes 4-The mother requires an adequate increased energy intake during pregnancy and nursing 5-Obesity during pregnancy can cause hypertension and the risk of preeclampsia 6-A mother should consume approximately 3 L of water per day while nursing 7-A healthy diet and lifestyle during pregnancy prevent future diseases in a child 8-For successful breastfeeding, a baby must latch on to the nipple and use suction to feed 9-The fetus receives vitamins, proteins, and minerals from what the mother eats 10-During the first six months of life, breast milk is the only food a baby requires

Fig. 2

Percent distribution of participants who held myths 1-Vomiting cannot be controlled during pregnancy 2-It is impossible to recover one’s prebaby weight after childbirth 3-You cannot exercise during pregnancy 4-An angry mother should not nurse her baby 5-You must eat for two during pregnancy 6-Not satisfying cravings leave a mark on the body of the newborn 7-You should drink moghat and helba to increase the breast milk supply

Fig. 3

Percent distribution of the main source of knowledge the participants trusted for knowledge related to pregnancy and lactation