Nutrition Education Program for First-Time Pregnant Women in Northern Ghana Focused on Improving Diet and Pregnancy Health Outcomes

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a nutrition education program designed for pregnant women in northern Ghana to help them eat a wider variety of foods and increase their intake of protein, energy, and iron-rich foods. The program aims to promote healthy weight gain during pregnancy and improve mothers knowledge about nutrition and health. This intervention was developed with input from local pregnant women and health professionals to address maternal health and pregnancy outcomes. The study includes two groups a treatment group that will receive six nutrition education and counseling sessions and a control group that will receive education on personal hygiene only. The first and last counseling sessions are given by a registered dietitian at a health facility during weeks 21-22 and 31-32 of pregnancy, while four bi-weekly follow-ups are conducted at the participants home by field assistants. All participants continue to receive standard care from their primary providers. Participants will be involved in visits and assessments throughout their pregnancy, including evaluations of health literacy at 10-12 weeks and dietary diversity at 15-17 weeks. Researchers will also measure nutrition knowledge at 15-17 weeks and infant birth weight around 20 weeks. The study monitors participant progress and outcomes to understand the impact of the nutrition education on both mothers and their babies during pregnancy.

Ghana MHL Project, Tamale