Empirical Analysis of the Effect of Maternal Nutrition Counselling on Birth Outcomes in Ogun State

Maternal nutrition during pregnancy significantly determines birth weight, preterm delivery risk, and neonatal survival, and structured nutrition counselling within antenatal care is an evidence-based intervention whose effectiveness in South West Nigeria requires empirical evaluation. This study empirically assessed the effect of structured maternal nutrition counselling during antenatal care on birth outcomes in Ogun State, South West Nigeria. A prospective cohort study was conducted at four government hospitals in Abeokuta North, Ifo, and Ijebu-Ode LGAs. Pregnant women attending their first antenatal visit between 8 and 20 weeks of gestation were enrolled (n = 380) and assigned to receive either standard antenatal nutrition advice (comparison group, n = 190) or a structured nutrition counselling protocol with monthly dietary assessment and reinforcement (intervention group, n = 190). Primary outcomes were birth weight, gestational age at delivery, and low birth weight prevalence. Dietary diversity and weight gain adequacy were tracked as intermediate outcomes. Results showed that the intervention group had a significantly lower low birth weight prevalence (8.4 percent versus 16.3 percent; p < 0.01) and higher mean birth weight (3,180 g versus 2,940 g; p < 0.001). Preterm delivery rates were non-significantly lower in the intervention group (7.9 percent versus 11.1 percent; p = 0.27). Dietary diversity improved significantly more in the intervention group at third trimester assessment (p < 0.001). The study provides empirical evidence supporting structured nutrition counselling as an effective birth outcome intervention and recommends its integration into Ogun State ANC protocol.