The Relationship Between Diet Quality, Nutrition Self-Efficacy and Sources of Nutrition Information in Australian Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

PurposeTo assess diet quality and nutrition self-efficacy in pregnant women, the relationship between diet quality and nutrition self-efficacy, and differences in diet quality and self-efficacy when information obtained from health and non-health professionals.DesignObservational cross-sectional study.SettingOnline survey.SampleAustralian pregnant women.MeasuresAustralian Eating Survey measured diet quality, Ralf Schwarzer and Britta Renner nutrition self-efficacy scale measured nutrition self-efficacy.AnalysisSpearman's correlation measured the association between diet quality and nutrition self-efficacy. Linear regression examined the influence of nutrition self-efficacy on diet quality. T-tests examined differences in diet quality and nutrition self-efficacy scores in groups who did/did not obtain nutrition information from health professionals.ResultsParticipants (n = 171) (mean (SD) age 32.5 (3.9) years, 81.9% born in Australia) reported a mean diet quality score of 33.9 (8.7) out of 73 and mean nutrition self-efficacy score of 14.7 (3.7) out of 20. A moderate positive linear relationship was observed between diet quality and nutrition self-efficacy (<i>r</i>_<i>s</i> = 0.27, <i>P</i> < .001). Nutrition information was obtained by 88%, most commonly via the internet. Diet quality scores were not significantly different when nutrition information was obtained from health professionals (<i>t</i>(24) = -0.823, <i>P</i> = .32), however, nutrition self-efficacy scores were significantly higher (<i>U</i> = 856, <i>z</i> = 2.18, <i>P</i> = .03).ConclusionPregnant women report poor diet quality. Improving nutrition self-efficacy may be effective for improving diet quality. Evidence-based nutrition information should be accessible via the internet and promoted by health authorities.