Abstract:

The pregnancy period is one of the most important in a woman’s life, during which the body requires more nutrients. This study aimed to show the pregnant woman’s dietary intake of certain nutrients. For this study, 201 pregnant women were interviewed and data were collected by using a face-to-face questionnaire. The socioeconomic statuses of the participants were also determined with Socioeconomic Status Index Questionnaire. Diet recalls collected for the 24 hours. The daily dietary energy and nutrient intake of certain nutrients were calculated by using a Food Processor software. According to the results pregnant women consumed insufficient energy, especially during their second and third trimesters. Folate intake was also found to be inadequate in the pregnant women. Although the pregnant women’s protein intake was adequate, their dietary iron intake was lower than recommended. There were no statistically significant differences between socioeconomic status and nutrient intake (p> 0.05). However, statistically significant differences were found between the pregnant women’s place of residence until the age of 12 and some nutrients and energy intake (p <0.05). Nutritional deficiency is a common and preventable problem in pregnant women. Adequate and balanced nutrition in pregnancy is important for both maternal and newborn health. Regular nutritional counseling should be recommended during pregnancy so that proper eating habits can be gained. Therefore iron and folate support should be recommended for every pregnancy.

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