Lillian Ziyenda Katenga-Kaunda|Penjani Rhoda Kamudoni|Gerd Holmboe?Ottesen|Heidi Fjeld|Ibrahimu Mdala|Zumin Shi|Per Ole Iversen
Enhancing nutrition knowledge and dietary diversity among rural pregnant women in Malawi: a randomized controlled trial
Mzuzu University|Malawi Government|University of Oslo|University of Oslo|University of Oslo|University of Oslo|Qatar University|Oslo University Hospital
abstract background many subsaharan african countries malawi antenatal care anc services deliver sufficient nutrition awareness improve adequate dietary intake pregnancy therefore compared effects supplementary nutrition education dietary counselling routine anc service nutrition knowledge dietary intakes among malawian pregnant women methods used data twoarmed cluster randomised controlled trial rct intervention group received supplementary nutrition education dietary counselling routine anc services whereas controls received routine anc services rct conducted 10 control 10 intervention villages mangochi southern malawi included pregnant women 9 th 16 th gestational weeks examined changes nutrition knowledge dietary diversity enrolment baseline study endpoint rct two weeks expected delivery used three linear multilevel regression models random effects village level cluster examine associations indicators nutrition knowledge diet consumption adjusted selected explanatory variables results among 257 pregnant women enrolled rct 195 76 available current study supplementary nutrition education counselling led significant improvements nutrition knowledge dietary diversity nutrition behaviour intervention group compared controls women study groups moderate consumption diversified foods study endpoint significant positive association nutrition knowledge consumption diversified diet observed intervention group conclusions nutrition knowledge dietary diversity improved study groups higher intervention group increased nutrition knowledge associated improved dietary diversity intervention women also improved nutrition perceptions behaviour antenatal nutrition education needs strengthening improve dietary intakes pregnancy low resourcesetting trial registration clinical trialsgov id nct03136393 registered 02052017