Does Nutritional Knowledge Have Relationship With Healthy Dietary Attitude and Practices during Pregnancy? Mitra Mirsanjari 1+ , Wan Abdul Manan Wan Muda 1 , Affizal Ahmad 1 , Mohd Shukri Othman 2 and Maryam Mosavat 2 1 School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia,16150, Kubang Kerian,Kelantan 2 School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia,16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan Abstract. The main dietary goal during pregnancy is to obtain adequate nutrition to optimize health of both mother and child. The aim of present study is to investigate the association between knowledge and dietary behavior among a group of women in normal condition of pregnancy. A cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women who attended Obstetrics and Gynaecology clinic during their antenatal care visits. Knowledge, attitude and practice on food and nutrition (KAP) questionnaire was utilized. The mean (SD) score for nutrition knowledge, attitude and practices for pregnant women was 13.8(3.4), 14.9(2.6) and 3.7(0.8) which presented 65.7%, 57.3% and 74% correct response rate respectively. There was significant positive but not strong correlation between nutrition knowledge and practices (r= 0.152, p=0.003), knowledge and attitude (r= 0.154, p=0.002) and attitude and practice (r=0.147, p=0.004). This study showed significant differences among means of knowledge between healthy and unhealthy practices on: frequency of eating snacks, selection of food for lunch and dinner, frequency of chicken /duck intake, type of drink, first and third liking activities in free time, most important priorities when buying food and taking vitamin/mineral supplementation; and of favorable/unfavorable attitudes on: importance of physical activity, change of dietary pattern to improve health, most important priorities when buying food. Contrary, no significant mean difference was found in healthy/unhealthy practices on: frequency of taking breakfast, types of snack usually eaten, first selection of food for breakfast, frequency of fish/other sea food, meat, beef, mutton, egg, beans and products, vegetables, fruits, and milk intake; and no significant difference was shown between two groups attitude on: least important priorities when buying food and attitude about fast foods. It can be concluded that the level of nutrition knowledge (NK) is satisfactory; however the effect of NK on healthier practices and attitudes is not too powerful. Keywords: Food practice, Health, Pregnancy, Nutritional knowledge 1. Introduction Adequate and balanced nutrition during gestation has been accredited as a prerequisite for a healthy pregnancy and birth outcomes [1]. It is well documented that deficiency of particular nutrients during antenatal period may contribute to suboptimal embryonic and fetal nutrition, impaired intrauterine growth and development, congenital malformations, severe pregnancy complications, and preterm deliveries [2]. Maternal inadequate nutritional intake may also make fetus more prone to cardiovascular, metabolic, or endocrine disease in adult life due to alteration of fetus ‘program ‘. Long term follow up studies showed that, men and women who were small or disproportionate at birth have more risk of coronary heart disease, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes [3]. Therefore, following an appropriate nutritional intake and proper dietary behavior will provide the necessary quantities and diversities of nutrients to ensure an optimum health for the mother and the baby as well as future generation [4, 5]. Dietary behaviors including food choices are influenced by a numerous environmental and individual factors. Some of the individual + Corresponding author. Tel.: + 60913446671; fax: +6097677515. E-mail address: mitra.mirsanjari@hotmail.com 159 2012 International Conference on Nutrition and Food Sciences IPCBEE vol. 39 (2012) © (2012) IACSIT Press, Singapore