SOCIO-CULTURAL CORRELATES OF FOOD INTAKE AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN IJEBU-EAST, SOUTHERN, NIGERIA

Maternal mortality and morbidity issues in Nigeria have continued to generate series of concerns in health literature. This is given that the conditions of pregnant women are characterised by poor dietary habits consistent with low food intake before, during and after pregnancy resulting in high rate of maternal deaths. This study therefore investigated the socio-cultural correlates of food intake among pregnant women in Southwest Nigeria as a way of understanding the context in which pregnancy outcomes take place. Data were collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Observation, In-depth Interviews (IDIs) and survey questionnaire. The findings show that patterns of social relationships existing between family members like Mother-in-laws, parents, siblings, cognates, members of religious group and neighbours have significant influence on women’s food intake during pregnancy and lactation; men’s choice of food affects women’s food preference and eating patterns during the period of pregnancy.
The objectives of the study include examining the relationship between factors related to cultural, demographic, and socioeconomic status of women and food intake during pregnancy.