| dc.description.abstract | Most causes of women’s nutritional problems are preventable. Lack of variety, poor quality, and sufficient food during pregnancy are important factors contributing to the health problems of expectant mothers and newborn children. This exposes women to risk for anaemia, hypertension, miscarriages, stillbirths, gestational diabetes, pre-term delivery and/or even loss of the mother. Ignorance and lack of comprehensive guiding information during antenatal and postnatal clinics are responsible for the failure of observing life-saving eating habits by expectant mothers. The ten food groups proposed to be eaten daily by women of reproductive age (FAO and FHI, 2016). Women should eat at least 5 out of 10 of the following food groups daily: (a) grains, white roots and tubers, and plantains; (b) pulses (beans, peas and lentils), (c) nuts and seeds, (d) dairy, (e) meat, poultry and fish, (f) eggs, (g) dark green leafy vegetables, (h) other Vitamin A rich fruits and vegetables, (i) other vegetables, and (j) other fruits. A varied diet rich in essential nutrients is vital for the proper growth of the developing fetus and leads to full-term births of healthy babies. Consuming different types of foods rich in essential nutrients help build the body, fight diseases and provide vital energy for optimal body growth and function | en_US |
