Knowledge Practice Gap in Maternal Nutrition Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal care in Ihiagwa, Owerri West Nigeria: A Cross Sectional Study

Maternal nutrition remains a critical determinant of pregnancy outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where preventable complications continue to contribute to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. This study assessed the nutritional knowledge and uptake of required nutrition practices among pregnant women attending antenatal services at Ihiagwa Primary Health Centre, Imo State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted, and 404 pregnant women were recruited using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 22.0. Findings revealed that 98.0% (396) of respondents had heard about good nutrition during pregnancy. However, despite this high level of awareness, dietary practices were suboptimal. Although 67.6% reported eating three meals daily, the most commonly consumed foods were starch-based, including bread (23.4%), rice (19.8%), and pasta (19.1%), indicating limited dietary diversity. Statistical analysis showed significant associations between nutritional knowledge and socio-demographic factors such as age (p = 0.004), parity (p = 0.003), and educational level (p = 0.0073). While awareness of good nutrition was high among pregnant women attending antenatal services at Ihiagwa Primary Health Centre, knowledge depth and practical implementation remained inadequate. Nutritional counseling and targeted dietary education during antenatal visits should be strengthened to improve maternal nutritional practices and pregnancy outcomes.