Review of Nutritional Status and Factors Affecting Dietary Practices among Pregnant Women

In every woman’s life, pregnancy is the greatest period where nutrition is the main significance for ideal pregnancy result. During this period, there is high demand of nutrients from the mother to the growing foetus. This paper focused on review of nutritional status and factors affecting dietary practices among pregnant women. Based on review, findings revealed that adequate dietary practices is crucial during pregnancy in order to ensure that correct energy and nutrient is provided to the developing foetus. Similarly, steady diet during pregnancy is essential for the well-being of both mother and the foetus. Pregnant women’s nutritional status and health influence the foetus health and survival due to the biological relationship between mother and child. Poor dietary practices result to insufficient maternal nutrition which leads to problems such as low birth weight, pre-term birth, Intra Uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) and infant mortality. Furthermore, socioeconomic status, household food security status, maternal and cultural factors affect dietary practices among pregnant women. During pregnancy, consumption of suitable nutritional food diet is important for women in order to supply the energy and nutrients required to the foetus. Moreover, pregnant women need to be enlightened on significance of dietary practices to their health and unborn child. Likewise, awareness needs to be created on importance of consumption of adequate food diet and sustaining healthy life during pregnancy.