Abstract:

Background: A healthy and balanced diet is quit important in life time and during pregnancy in particular. The maternal diet must provide sufficient energy and nutrients to meet the mother's usual requirements, as well as the needs of the growing fetus and enabling mother to maintain her own stores of nutrients required for fetal and infant health as well as for future breastfeeding practices.

Objectives: Assessment of knowledge about the importance of good health and nutrition among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Makongoro clinic.

Methodology: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted for 3 months period. The study was conducted at Makongoro antenatal clinic which is the largest antenatal clinic in Mwanza city in North West, Tanzania, more than 50 pregnant women attend at Makongoro clinic in a day. About 17,431 pregnant women seek health services at this clinic per year (19).

Results: A total of 184 pregnant women attending Makongoro Ante-natal clinic were recruited for the study. Majority 84 (46%) of the participants were aged between 20-29 years of age. Alcohol consumptions 98 (53%), getting less than three meals per day 94 (51%) , difficulty to access health care 133 (72%) , Culture believes 147 (80%) and other factors 85 (46%). found to hinder good health and nutrition among the pregnant women

Conclusion: This study revealed that health knowledge were higher among pregnant women who were attended ANC clinics at Makongoro Health Centre in-fact that Attending ANC clinics confers some benefit, but not in nutrition education, dietary diversity or improved food consumption practices. Maternal knowledge and nutrition are the important evaluation indicators to assess the impact of educational intervention offered through ANC clinics.

Recommendation: A greater emphasis on program implementation of health and nutrition counselling is required to ensure effective uptake of health and nutrition knowledge, and improved dietary and food consumption practices.