Evaluation of Outcome of Nutrition Education on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Iron-deficiency Anemia among Pregnant Women in Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu, South India
Sandra Das, Prakash Bangalore Nagendrappa, Subrahmanya Kumar Kukkupuni, Gurmeet SinghAbstract
Context:
Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide and remains a major public health concern among pregnant women. Poor knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward anemia contribute to its persistence.
Aims:
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition education in improving KAP on IDA among pregnant women in the Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu.
Settings and Design:
This was a community-based, prospective, interventional, single-arm, and pre–post study conducted in rural and semiurban villages.
Methods:
Forty-one pregnant women in their first and second trimesters were purposively selected. Sociodemographic, obstetric, and KAP data were collected using a semistructured questionnaire through Epicollect5. Participants underwent an 8-week household-based nutrition education program using multimedia, flipcharts, and interactive sessions.
Statistical Analysis Used:
Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the participant characteristics. The composite domain scores were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test after assessing normality using the Shapiro–Wilk test.
Results:
At baseline, adequate knowledge (31.7%), positive attitude (40.2%), and healthy practices (42.1%) were limited. Postintervention, significant improvements were observed in knowledge (91.6%,
Conclusions:
Structured nutrition education improved KAP regarding IDA among pregnant women. Integrating such interventions into routine antenatal care may reduce the burden of anemia and improve maternal and child health outcomes.