Factors that Influences Nutrition on the Health Status of Women of Childbearing Age
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Ogbeide (2011) defined adequate nutrition as a diet that contains adequate proportions of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, along with the recommended daily allowances of all essential minerals, vitamins, and health-promoting substances. He sees adequate and balanced diet as one of the most important contributing factors to achieving or maintaining a good state of health. The human body is an adaptable organism, and a wide range of dietary patterns and food intakes can lead to good health and nutritional well-being. Adequate nutrition helps individuals achieve general health and well-being. In addition, dietary modifications might be prescribed for a variety of complaints including allergies, anemia, arthritis, colds, depressions, fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders, high or low blood pressure, insomnia, headaches, obesity, pregnancy, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), respiratory conditions, and stress (WHO, 2014).
In all culture across the world, healthy babies and mothers are cherished dreams and yearning of every family. However, besides emphasizing on pregnancy and birth outcome, considering the different stages of women’s health is of utmost importance. This is so since a woman needs to cater for the infant child, adult life, pre-conception period, pregnancy and lactation phase, good nutrition are vital to reduce rise of health and pregnancy complications and death as well as to eradicate mal-nutritional deficiencies disparity through enhanced health promotion and disease prevention (Doherty, 2001).
It is obvious that adequate nutrition before child-bearing age help to ensure achievement of proper growth and development of a growing child (Bukola, 2015). Sufficient nutrition stored during reproductive years for a healthy pregnancy and an appropriate nutritional status especially that of the childbearing age and to maintain skeletal health during the post menopausal stage of women’s life is crucial. Hence, there is need for women to maintain optimal nutritional habit and practices in her life time. Uya (2000) opined that ‘man in his environment is influenced by many factors, and his behaviour is affected by his environment’. He goes on to say, nutrition has profound effect on the environmental factor affecting man. Nutrition affects man’s health, his thinking faculty, his reaction to situations, emotions, reception to facts and figures, his interactions with other people and indeed his general pattern of behaviour. The professional attainment and success in life depends solely on his nutritional status.
Factors that Influences Nutrition on the Health Status of Women of Childbearing Age
Nutritional influence on people is of great magnitude, but it impact is quite often ignored in the process of democracy (p361). Good nutritional is a basic component of health growth and development for maintaining health throughout life. Proper nutrition of the nation is necessary for the nation’s growth and economic development (Basavanthappa, 2008). The importance of good nutrition to women of childbearing age can not boast effective and efficient nutritional status of women of childbearing age. Participation in health promotion programmes so as to gain purposeful knowledge and know-how on nutritional ideas and approaches for functional and impactful living, promoting healthy eating habits. Control of family size, socio-economic factor as relate to nutritional inadequacy intake resulting from malnutrition, environmental, cultural and behavioural patterns of the people as factors that influences nutritional status of women of childbearing age should be given urgent attention or consideration (Ogbeide, 2011).
This research is geared towards considering the influence of nutrition of women of childbearing age in Mbiakpa Ibakesi, Ini Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
For decades now, there has been a tremendous increase in maternal and infant mortality both in public and private hospitals. It is revealed that women especially, those from low socio-economic background have suffered a lot of complications resulting from malnutrition and other related issues; hence, the researcher intent to find out the influence of nutrition on women of childbearing age in Mbiakpa Ibakesi in Ini Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. The research will also aim at proffering solution to the problems caused by influence of nutrition on women of childbearing age in Mbiakpa Ibakesi in Ini Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main purpose of the study is to find out factors that influences nutrition on the health status of women of childbearing age in Mbiakpa Ibakesi, Ini Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
The specific objectives are as follows:
- To determine the influence of nutrition education on the health of women of childbearing age.
- To ascertaining the influence of family size on the health of women of childbearing age in Mbiakpa Ibakesi, Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
- To find out the influence of cultural practice on the health of women of childbearing age.
- To investigate the influence of economic status on the health of women of child bearing age in Mbiakpa Ibakesi, Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Factors that Influences Nutrition on the Health Status of Women of Childbearing Age
1.4 Significance of the Study
This research will be of great value to woman of childbearing age, it will help to acquire the nutritional knowledge that can aid them develop healthy eating habits and self-restraints over illegal consumption of materials which are detrimental to their health. To parents, it will cushion the effects of stunted growth, marasmus and other deficiency associated with nutritional inadequacies. To policy makers, it will aid them develop policies and program of actions that will enhance and improve the health status of women and better their working capacities. This research will offer them the opportunity to treat micronutrient deficiency, encourage household to meet the dietary needs of quality health services. to students and researchers, it will assist their research work and updating and upgrading of their knowledge in various field of studies.
1.5 Research Questions
The following research questions were formulated:
- To what extent does nutrition education influences the nutritional status of women of childbearing age?
- To what extent does family size influences the nutritional status of women of childbearing age?
- How does cultural practice influences the nutritional status of women of childbearing age?
- To what extent does economic status of family influences the nutritional status of women of childbearing age in Mbiakpa Ibakesi, Ini Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State?
1.6 Delimitation of the Study
This research is delimited to the influence of nutrition of women of childbearing age in Mbiakpa Ibakesi, Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Consequently, it will span to these subheadings:
- Nutritional Education
- Family size and nutritional health status
- Cultural practices and nutritional health status
- Economic status of families and nutritional health status
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Introduction
This chapter deals with the review of related literature. The major reason for this review is to gather ideas, opinions, information and findings of other researchers in related area of study under the following headings:
- Conceptual Framework
- Theoretical Framework
- Empirical Framework
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Introduction
This chapter is concern with discussion of findings, summary, conclusion, and recommendations.
5.2 Discussion of Findings
Research Question 1
To what extent does nutrition education influences the nutritional status of women of childbearing age?
The result of the findings from questionnaire item 1-4 revealed that out of the total respondents, 68.75% agreed that nutrition education have a greater impact on the nutritional status of women of child-bearing age, while 31.25% disagreed. This result is in agreement with Wade (2004) who opined that counselling during pregnancy about healthy diet and lifestyle can be the optimum time to encourage adequate daily iron and folic acid intake. He further stated that nutrition education programme endeavour to alter participant’s dietary intakes by remodeling behavioural factors, food choices and cooking skills, goal setting, inspirations, and reinforce the change efforts.
Factors that Influences Nutrition on the Health Status of Women of Childbearing Age
Research Question 2
To what extent does family size influences the nutritional status of women of childbearing age?
Findings from questionnaire item 5-8 revealed that out of the total respondents, 67.5% agreed that family size influences the nutritional status of women of child bearing age, while 32.5% disagreed. Since the percentage of those that agreed was greater than those that disagreed, the result was retained. This is in support with WHO/FAO (2014) who affirmed that hundreds of millions of people suffer from communicable and non-communicable related diseases due to inadequate nutrition which often lead to premature death. According to them, the main causes of the above issues are as a result of large family size.
Research Question 3
How does cultural practice influences the nutritional status of women of childbearing age?
Result from questionnaire item 9-12 revealed that out of 100 respondents, 65.5% agreed that cultural practices influence the nutritional status of women of child bearing age, while 34.5% disagreed. This is in support with Saba (2006) who attested that the overall nutritional health status of pregnant woman is principally determined by the feeding practices and care facilities available for her. According to her, if there are conditions or restrictions placed on certain types of food as a result of taboo, it makes it difficult for the woman to feed well.
Research Question 4
To what extent does economic status of family influences the nutritional status of women of childbearing age in Mbiakpa Ibakesi, Ini Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State?
The result from questionnaire item 13-16 revealed that out of 100 respondents, 92% agreed that economic status of family influence the nutritional status of women of child bearing age, while 8% disagreed. This is in line with Rutty and Sullivan (2010) who stated that “people with low incomes often lack resources and access to nutritious food, adequate housing, safe-drinking water, good working conditions and access to health care facilities”. This poor trend of event, have negative health impact on the women of child bearing age and the general health of the family. People of low economic conditions may face financial challenges or stress which can result in various health related problems as high blood pressure, immune and circulatory systems complications compared to people with higher economic status.
5.3 Summary
This descriptive survey work was made to investigate the influence of adequate nutrition on the health of women of childbearing age (15-49 years) in Mbiakpa Ibakesi, Ini Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. To guide the study, four objectives were set viz: to determine the influence of nutrition education, family size, cultural practice and economic status on health of women of childbearing age in Mbiakpa Ibakesi, Ini Local Government Area. Research questions were formulated, and related literatures were reviewed based on the set objectives. Social cognitive theory was used to throw more light in the study. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the sample size of 100 respondents. Instrument for data collection was questionnaire. Finding revealed that nutrition education, family size, cultural practice and economic status largely influence the health of women of childbearing age in Mbiakpa Ibakesi, Ini Local Government Area. This show why women should be exposed to good educational health topics through seminars, conferences, workshops to help them improve in their nutritional status.
5.4 Conclusion
From the foregoing, it was concluded that nutrition education and nutritional health status of women have a great influence on the health status of women of childbearing age. It was also seen that large family size had significant impact on the nutritional health status of women of childbearing age. The study portrays that cultural practices has a major influence on the nutritional health of women of child bearing age. Further findings also led to the conclusion that economic status of families had a great influence on the nutritional health status of women of child bearing age.
Factors that Influences Nutrition on the Health Status of Women of Childbearing Age
5.5 Recommendations
Based on the finding of the study, the following recommendations were proffered:
- Government should provide necessary facilities in the primary and secondary schools to promote health education amongst female gender.
- Family planning education should be intensify within the rural communities to help in the control of population size as it affect the nutritional health status of women of child bearing age.
- Government should make laws that will discourage barbaric cultural practices and encourage healthy ones.
- Economic status of women in the rural areas should be improved by provision of job and entrepreneurial skills.
5.6 Limitation of the Study
An array of challenges constitutes constraints to the efficient and effective research work. The geographical terrain of Mbiakpa Ibakesi in Ini Local Government Area, poor road network, poor internet services and other salient issues were factors that gridlocked the research.
