ABSTRACT

Pre-conception nutrition is a key determinant of the pregnancy outcome and the health of a newborn. Since women are likely to conceive at some point in their lives, there is need to attain appropriate nutrition status in order to prepare them to meet the future needs of pregnancy for both the mother and the unborn child. Several factors including demographic and economic characteristics, nutrition knowledge and attitude are known to influence dietary practices. Several researches have focused on pregnancy. However, information about pre-conception and its determinants, especially in Kenya, is scanty and there is concern that women rarely consider their pre-conception dietary practices and nutrition status to be important. This study aimed to establish the determinants of pre-conception dietary practices among female undergraduate students at Kenyatta University, Kenya. The study adopted a crosssectional analytical design. A sample of 422 female undergraduate students was randomly selected from Kenyatta University. A semi-structured questionnaire and focus group discussion guide were used to collect participants’ information. Body mass index (BMI) was used to assess the participants’ nutrition status. Knowledge on pre-conception dietary practices was determined based on nutrition knowledge scores (correct response: 1, incorrect: 0). Overall knowledge level was percentages of total correct responses categorized as low, moderate and high. Attitudes were measured using a five point likert scale. Dietary practices were determined using a minimum dietary diversity for women (MDDS-W) and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Chi-square test was used to establish relationship between categorical variables. Regression analysis was used to determine factors influencing pre-conception dietary practices. Qualitative data from focus group discussions (FGDs) was organized and analyzed thematically. Descriptive statistics such as percentages and mean was used to describe data. All analyses were considered significant at p