Effects of Using a Nutritional Consumption-recording Form among at-risk Pregnant Women to Prevent Low Birth Weight Infants at Phon Phisai Health Center, Phon Phisai, Nong Khai

Abstract

The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the effects of using Obstetric Nutritional Recommendations in nutritional-risk pregnancies at Phon Phisai Health Center, Phon Phisai, Nong Khai. Six pregnant women at risk for LBW neonates were asked to participate in a 5-time activity. The program included a multiple-pass activity technique involving with assessing the participants by questionnairesand providing nutritional recommendations in these nutritional-risk pregnancies. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics
The results revealed that the participants aged from 15 to 33. Their occupations mainly involved with agriculture (66.67%), and employee (33.33%) with average household income of 3,500 baht per month. Most of them were extended family (83.33%). More than half of participants were first pregnancy (66.66%), while the second and third pregnancies showed the same percentage (16.67%). None of them reported the history of abortion. Then planning and dietary considerations
were approached individually. After participation, it was reported that the average scores of nutritional knowledge and
dietary pattern following desirable nutritional concept increased significantly compared to before participation with the statistical significance (p< 0.05). This resulted in preferable birth weight infants with greater than 2,500 grams.
In conclusion, adherence to obstetric nutritional recommendations in nutritional-risk pregnancies can meet nutrient requirements and can prevent LBW infants. With a 5-time multiple-pass activity technique, the compliance was generally high and resulted in preferable birth weight infants with over 2,500 grams. It is recommended that this program should be applied annually and continually, particularly among nutritional-risk and teenage pregnant women.