Effectiveness of Antenatal Nutritional Education in Improving Pregnant Women's Knowledge and Attitudes toward Child Nutrition and Development in State Hospital, Oyo, Nigeria

Maternal and child health challenges persist in Nigeria, where malnutrition remains a major contributor to morbidity and mortality among children under five. Poor maternal knowledge and unfavorable attitudes toward infant and young child feeding (IYCF), often influenced by cultural norms and misinformation, further exacerbate these outcomes. Evidence supports antenatal education as a strategy for improving maternal competencies; however, limited studies in Nigeria have integrated child nutrition and development within a single educational framework. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design was conducted among 78 pregnant women attending antenatal care at State Hospital, Oyo. Participants received a nurse-led, structured educational intervention on child nutrition and development, delivered over six sessions. Data were collected using validated questionnaires assessing maternal knowledge and attitudes before and after the intervention. Descriptive statistics and paired sample t-tests were used for data analysis at a 0.05 significance level. Participants were predominantly aged 25–29 years (35.9%), married (85.9%), and educated to at least secondary level (46.2%). Post-intervention results showed significant improvements across all outcome domains. Knowledge of child nutrition improved markedly (Mean Difference = –6.25, t = –14.20, p < 0.001), as did attitudes toward child nutrition (Mean Difference = –6.55, t = –11.90, p < 0.001). Knowledge of child development (Mean Difference = –5.60, t = –13.30, p < 0.001) and attitudes toward child development (Mean Difference = –6.45, t = –12.40, p < 0.001) also demonstrated significant gains. The nurse-led antenatal educational programme effectively enhanced maternal knowledge and attitudes regarding child nutrition and development. Incorporating structured, culturally responsive, evidence-based education into routine antenatal care may strengthen maternal capacity, promote optimal childcare practices, and contribute to improved child health outcomes. Scaling such interventions supports progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3 and enhances quality maternal and child health services in Nigeria. Keywords: Nurse-led education, Maternal knowledge, Child nutrition, Child development, Antenatal care,