KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF PREGNANT WOMEN RELATING TO PREVENTION OF FOETAL ORIGIN OF ADULT DISEASES IN OLORUNDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OSUN STATE

Abstract

Foetal Origin of Adult Diseases (FOAD) are chronic diseases which occur later in future due to deficiencies of micronutrients like folate, ferrous, zinc and vitamin B₁₂ during the first trimester of pregnancy. There is increasing incidence of chronic diseases not linked to hereditary or other environmental factors, but traceable to deficiency of nutrients in utero. Previous studies have shown that many pregnant women had little or no knowledge of the concept of FOAD in relation to essential nutrition in the first trimester. Hence, this study was designed to determine pregnant women’s knowledge and practice on the prevention of FOAD in Olorunda Local Government Area, Osogbo. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was adopted using a two-stage random sampling technique to select Wards, Primary Health Centres, and 422 consenting respondents. A semi- structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge and prevention of FOAD. Knowledge of FOAD was measured on a 29-point scale; scores of <10. ≥ 10-20, and >25 were categorized as poor, fair, and good, respectively. Practice was measured on a 14-point scale; scores of <7 and ≥ 7 were categorized as poor and good, respectively. Three Focus Group Discussion sessions (FGDs) comprising of 10 respondents each were conducted. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and logistic regression models at p=0.05 while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Age of respondents was 30.9±6.8 years and 32.0% had no formal education. Respondents' knowledge score was 11.4±3.4. Those with poor, fair and good knowledge were 48.3%, 44.1% and 7.6%, respectively. About fifty six percent wrongly reported that third trimester is the most sensitive of all trimesters. Seventy one percent reported that deficiency of folate could only cause jaundice, malaria and rickets in children while 69.7%, 71.6% and 74.6% reported that intake of folate containing diets in the first trimester cannot prevent hypertension, diabetes and obesity, respectively. Seventy percent said the deficiency of ferrous could rather lead to jaundice, malaria and ricket while only about 25.0% percentage rightly reported that its deficiency could cause chronic diseases. Practice score on the prevention of FOAD was 6.2±1.8 with 77.0% having poor practice. Antenatal clinic attendance was related with the knowledge of FOAD. Respondents who attend all antenatal visits were more likely to have good knowledge of FOAD (81.0%) than those who did not attend (17.8%) (OR=3.7: CI=3.4-7.5). Knowledge was significantly related with practice on the prevention of FOAD. A higher proportion of respondents with poor practice (48.3%) were less likely to have good knowledge (OR=0.4: CI=0.3-0.6). Majority of the focus group discussion participants also opined that the chronic diseases are never of foetal origin but rather hereditary. However, excerpts from the discussions showed that the participants had poor knowledge and practice in relation to the prevention of FOAD. Majority of the respondents had poor knowledge and practice of prevention of FOAD. Therefore, strategies like health education and use of information education and communication media (radio, posters) should be promoted to improve the knowledge and practice.