A Mixed Method Approach to Explore and to Assess the Effectiveness of Nutrition Education Regarding Dietary Taboos on Knowledge and Attitude Among Postnatal Mothers at Selected Rural Areas in Thanjavur District

Abstract

Aim & objective: To assess the effectiveness of nutrition education regarding dietary taboos on knowledge and attitude among postnatal mothers at selected rural areas in Thanjavur district. Material and Method: A mixed method approach carried in two phases. Initially started with quantitative using purposive sampling technique with 65 postnatal mothers to assess the effectiveness of nutrition education on knowledge and attitude regarding dietary taboos followed by which the qualitative phase using judgemental sampling among 5 postnatal mothers was explored about their dietary taboos. The assessment of demographic variables and knowledge, dietary pattern with food frequency and 24 hours dietary recall with self structured questionnaire and attitude regarding dietary taboos among Post-natal mothers with 4 point likert attitude scale. Results: Results of the study revealed that post-natal mothers’ post-test mean knowledge score was 9.03 with S.D. 0.92, and their post-test mean attitude score was 34.92 with S.D 2.88. According to the calculated ‘t’ values t = 37.762 for knowledge and t = 43.019 for attitude, there was a statistically significant difference in mean scores among postnatal mothers at p = 0.005.The qualitative study revealed that the postnatal mothers was identified to followed certain dietary restrictions few of which was considered to be dietary taboos on scientific ground like pineapple, jackfruit, papaya, red guava and drumstick leaves and others . Conclusion: The study enhanced postnatal mothers’ knowledge and attitudes about dietary taboos. The participants were acquainted about the various factors that cause them to follow dietary taboos.