Evaluation of outcome of nutrition education on knowledge, attitude and practice of iron deficiency anaemia among pregnant women in Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The most prevalent nutritional deficiency-related issue that many pregnant women experience worldwide is iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), which is a serious health concern. Given that it is associated with a lack of the proper knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) on anaemia, it may be preventable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of a nutrition education program on change in the KAP on IDA of pregnant women in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. A prospective, interventional, single-arm, pre-post study was conducted involving 41 pregnant women in Nilgiris district. Socio-demographic, economic status data and KAP on IDA were collected using a semi structured questionnaire through Epicollect5 android application. Six weeks of nutrition education was conducted with the participants. The result revealed that the participants had limited adequate knowledge (31.7%), positive perception (40.2%) and healthy practices (42.1) about anaemia. Nutrition education intervention significantly improved knowledge scores (91.6%, p ≤ 0.05), with a notable increase in understanding of anaemia causes, consequences, and preventive measures. Attitudes (72%, p ≤ 0.05) and Practice (47.6% p ≤ 0.05) towards anaemia prevention and treatment also showed improvement. It can be concluded that structured nutritional educational intervention effectively enhances knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding IDA among pregnant women, thereby potentially contribute to improve health outcomes for both mothers and infants. Further research is recommended to assess the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the intervention, as well as its impact on anaemia prevalence rates in the study population. The study underscores the significance of incorporating nutrition education into healthcare policies and practices to address the burden of anaemia among pregnant women effectively.