The Value of Antenatal Health Education Program for Improving Dietary Habits in Puerperium

Background: Poor maternal health post delivery can be due to improper dietary intake. Women have special beliefs about dietary habits during puerperium which are deep rooted according to customs of the society. Omitting important food items during this time period of stress may lead to dietary deficiencies of iron and calcium leading to anemia and hypocalcaemia. Mothers need to heal from wounds of episiotomy and caesarean section. The extra burden of lactation demands good nutrition. It was observed that there is a trend of avoiding certain food items during puerperium. Therefore this education program was designed to bring about a change in beliefs/views of women about dietary elements which women were planning to avoid during puerperium.
Methods: This study comprised women attending the Qassim University clinic for antenatal visits for a period of 3months from 1st October 2012-31st Dec 2012. A total of 150 women were interviewed to find out their views about avoiding certain food items post delivery. They were later provided health education broachers, and a power point presentation to stress the importance of the dietary components which they were planning to avoid. Pre and post intervention results were compared using chi-square analysis.
Results: For meat and poultry, fruits and vegetables, milk and milk products results revealed a significant relationship between pre and post intervention using chi-squared analysis (P value <0.05). For women planning to avoid fish and sea food, results indicated that a significant relationship did exist between pre-education program and Post education program groups; χ2 (1, n = 15) = 15.000, p< .001 However for drinks and juices the relationship was not significant.
Conclusion: Health education programs can successfully change the views about dietary components which can bring a healthy change in dietary habits of women in puerperium. Antenatal classes should include health education programs to find out and allay dietary myths to be practiced in puerperium.