Diet is an important issue in maternal health, since optimal
fetal development requires adequate nutrients. Maternal
malnutrition during the prenatal period has been associated
with spontaneous abortion, poor growth and development,
learning impairment and behaviour problems of the offspring.
1,2 Some nutrient deficiencies can be dealt with by
strengthening the training and practice of antenatal care
providers, enabling them to dispense supplementation, such
as iron, calcium and vitamin tablets. Understanding the
dietary patterns of pregnant women and the associated
factors leads to proper planning of nutrition education programs