Nutritional Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Maternal nutrition during pregnancy profoundly influences foetal development and birth outcomes. This study evaluates the nutritional knowledge, attitudes, and dietary practices of pregnant women receiving antenatal care at two tertiary health facilities in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, South South Nigeria. Malnutrition during gestation, including both undernutrition and excessive gestational weight gain, remains a public health concern in this oil-producing state despite its relative economic affluence. A cross-sectional study design was used, with 250 pregnant women in their second and third trimesters systematically recruited. A pretested, structured questionnaire assessed nutritional knowledge using validated items, attitude was measured on a Likert scale, and dietary practices were evaluated through a food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour dietary recall. Sociodemographic variables including parity, educational level, and household income were also collected. Findings are expected to demonstrate gaps between knowledge and actual dietary practice, with many women relying on culturally held food taboos that restrict intake of beneficial foods. Adequate antenatal dietary counselling was identified as a positive determinant of better nutritional practices. These findings contribute to improving maternal nutrition education in South South Nigeria. Keywords: maternal nutrition, pregnancy, antenatal care, Port Harcourt, dietary practices.