Knowledge and Perception of Nurses' Nutritional Counselling among Pregnant Women in Select Rural Maternity Centres in Oyo State, Nigeria

Background: Pregnancy is a critical period in a woman's life, and adequate nutrition is essential for the health and well-being of both the mother and the fetus. Nutritional counselling by healthcare providers, particularly nurses, plays a vital role in promoting healthy dietary habits and preventing nutrition-related complications during pregnancy. In Nigeria, rural areas face significant challenges in accessing quality maternal healthcare services, including nutritional counselling. Oyo State, in particular, has been reported to have high rates of maternal and child mortality, partly due to inadequate nutrition and healthcare services. Nurses, as primary healthcare providers in rural maternity centres, are crucial in delivering nutritional counselling to pregnant women. However, the effectiveness of nurses' nutritional counselling depends on their knowledge, perception, and attitude towards nutritional care. Objectives:The study investigated the knowledge and perception of nurses' nutritional counselling among pregnant women in select rural maternity centres in Oyo State, Nigeria. Methods: A mixed method was adopted for this study. Survey method and in-depth interview were used to guide the study. Results: Findings show that knowledge of nurses’ nutritional counselling among pregnant women is based on higher socio-economic status. Low birth weight babies and neonatal death are the major factors responsible for the adoption of nutritional counselling by the pregnant women in Oyo State. Findings also show that nurses encounter maternal barriers, religious and cultural barriers in the discharge of their nutritional counselling duties. Conclusion: As a result of prevalence of illiteracy among pregnant women in the rural areas, Yoruba Language majorly understood by the pregnant women should be used as a medium of nutritional counselling by nurses in rural maternity centres in Oyo State, Nigeria. Key Contributions: The study contributes to improving the quality of nutritional counselling services provided by nurses in rural maternity centres in Oyo State, Nigeria. Key Recommendations: The factor that informs knowledge of nurses’ nutritional counselling among pregnant women is higher socio-economic status. Therefore, Non-Governmental Organisations in collaboration with the Government of Oyo State must establish job creation centres as well as adult education centres in the rural areas of Oyo State to empower not only women but also men to aid all-round development in the rural areas of Oyo State.