Assessing the Dietary Practices among Pregnant Women at Suntreso Government Hospital, Ghana

Background: Maternal nutrition throughout pregnancy is essential for the well-being of both mother and child. In low- and middle-income nations such as Ghana, inadequate food habits among pregnant women persist as considerable public health issues. This study examined the dietary habits of pregnant women receiving antenatal care at Suntreso Government Hospital and investigated their beliefs regarding the consequences and management of insufficient maternal nutrition. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was administered to 375 pregnant women at different gestational stages. Simple random sampling was used to choose the participants. Structured questionnaires were used to gather information about eating habits, knowledge, perceived health effects, and management techniques. Quantitative data were examined with SPSS version 23, and descriptive statistics were used to show the results. Results: Even though 77.3% of the people who took part correctly named the parts of a healthy diet and 56.0% said they ate three meals a day, there were still certain problems that made it hard to eat well. These factors encompassed economic limitations, cultural convictions, and restricted food diversity. Most of the people who answered agreed that poor nutrition during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery (77.3%), low birth weight (85.3%), intrauterine growth restriction (82.7%), postpartum hemorrhage (74.7%), and infant morbidity and mortality (81.3%). Some of the suggested remedies were going to regular prenatal care appointments (85.3%), getting food supplements (82.7%), and getting better socio-economic support (80.0%). Conclusion: The study shows that pregnant women know a lot about nutrition but don’t always follow it in their daily lives. To improve the health of mothers and newborns in this area, it is important to deal with economic problems, expand nutrition education based on ANC, and make it easier for people to get supplements and social assistance.