NUTRIENT ADEQUACY AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINIC AT IBRAHIM TAIWO PRIMARY HEALTHCARE CENTER OGBOMOSO, OYO STATE.

ABSTRACT This study explores the socio-demographic characteristics and dietary patterns of pregnant women attending antenatal clinics, focusing on the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) and its implications for nutritional health. The survey reveals a predominantly young demographic, with 90.2% of respondents aged 21 to 40 years, primarily of Yoruba ethnicity (94.9%) and predominantly Christian (64.7%). Most respondents have completed secondary education (64.3%) and are largely self-employed (53.6%), reflecting an entrepreneurial spirit in the community, although 27.2% of households earn between 20,001 - 30,000 Naira, indicating economic constraints.The analysis of dietary diversity shows that 54% of the women met the MDD-W standard by consuming a variety of food groups, while 46% did not, highlighting significant gaps in dietary habits. Key staples include garri, fufu, and beans, which are consumed regularly, but fruit and dairy intake is notably low. The correlation analysis reveals a significant negative relationship between dietary diversity and calorie intake (p = 0.02), suggesting that more varied diets may be lower in calories. Additionally, significant negative correlations are found for calcium, phosphorus, and zinc intakes with dietary diversity (all p = 0.02), raising concerns about potential nutrient deficiencies despite the benefits of dietary variety. These findings emphasize the need for targeted nutritional education and interventions to enhance dietary diversity among pregnant women, ultimately aiming to improve maternal and child health outcomes in the community. Addressing identified gaps is essential for fostering better health practices and supporting overall well-being.