ACCESSIBILITY AND USE OF NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION BY PREGNANT WOMEN IN SELECTED PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTRE IIN IJEBU-ODE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF OGUN STATE

Abstract

This study investigated the accessibility and use of nutritional information by pregnant women in selected primary health care centers in Ijebu-ode Local Government of Ogun State. A survey research design of correlational type was adopted while a total enumeration sampling method was used to capture 125 pregnant women in selected primary health care centers in Ijebu-Ode Ogun State. The questionnaire was used for data collection and 112(89.6%) copies of questionnaires were returned out of 125 copies administered and found usable for the analysis. Data was analyzed by simple percentages, frequency counts, mean and standard deviation and Pearson correlation was used to test the hypothesis. The findings have shown that the level of accessibility of nutritional information resources by pregnant women understudy was high (= 3.17). The level of use of nutritional information resources by pregnant women understudy was high (= 3.12). The sources of nutritional information by pregnant women are Doctors 111(99.1%), Nurses 108(96.4%) and Internet 106(94.6%). The challenges facing the use of nutritional information by pregnant women understudy are the level of awareness 107(95.5%), level of education 106(94.6%) and time constraints 103(91.0%). There is a negative relationship between accessibility and use of nutritional information by pregnant women understudy (r= -0.212; p= .000). The study, therefore, recommends that primary health centers to create community awareness through public campaigns and educational programs on various information sources to consult for nutritional and dietary information and healthy living by pregnant women.