Adequacy Of Fluid Intake Among Pregnant Women Attending Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria

*1Olufemi S.S (RD), 1Oladapo A.A (RD), 2Gbadamosi O.F
*1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Food Technology, Rufus Giwa,
Polytechnic, P M B 1019, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria
2Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Federal Polytechnic, Bida,
P M B 55, Bida, Niger State.
Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]   phone no: 08068596968

ABSTRACT
Objective: This study was conducted to find out the adequacy of fluid intake among pregnant women attending Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State.

Subject and Methods: Eighty Pregnant women who attended ante-natal clinic of the medical centre were
involved in the study. Purposive sampling method was used to select the subjects. A validated questionnaire
was used to obtain information from the women at their clinic sessions. Background information on the socio-demographic data, water and fluid intake of the pregnant women were collected. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 17. Descriptive statistics was used to determine frequency, percentage and mean while inferential statistic ANOVA was used to analyze the relationship between the variables.

Results: The results showed that majority (28.7%) of the pregnant women were between the ages of 26-30 years, 41% of the women drank tap water, 39% drank sachet water, and 13% had well water while about 6% took rain water. The amount of daily water intake showed that 39% of the subjects drank above 8 cups of 8 oz glasses of water daily, 29% took 6-7 cups and 9% had 2-3 cups daily. Weekly fluid intake showed that 32% took cocoa beverage, 40% tea, 49% soft drink. Mean daily water intake and total fluid intake was 1290ml and 1.9L, which was below the recommended intake of 1900ml and 2.3L, respectfully. Fluid availability and type of fluid intake was significant at p< 0.01 level.

Conclusion: Twelve point five percent (12.5%) and 6.2% of pregnant women depended on well and rain water, respectively, which were poor sources of water, and could pose danger to the health of both mother and fetus. The fluid intake from beverage of most pregnant women was inadequate while the total fluid intake was adequate, though the intake of sugar and caffeine containing beverages was high, which may also have irreversible negative health effects on the mother and the fetus. Pregnant women therefore should not only increase caloric intake during pregnancy, but increased intake of good source of water and nutrient enriched fluid. Adequate fluid intake can come from drinking water, beverages of all kinds, and from food moisture. On average, 1900 ml intake in each 24 hour period – of non-food fluid (beverages) and 1500ml from food fluid could guarantee average daily need.