Nutrition in Pregnancy: A Northern Territory Provider Perspective
Gehlert JEK¹, Jeyaraman K¹, Whitbread C1,2, Kirkham R2, Connors C3, Simmonds A2, O’Dea K4, Maple-Brown LJ^1,2
1Department of Endocrinology, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Australia
²Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia
³Top End Health Service, NT Department of Health, Darwin, Australia
⁴University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia

Background: Maternal obesity, excessive gestational weight gain and diabetes are high-risk obstetric complications. The antenatal period provides an opportunity for nutritional education that may improve pregnancy outcomes.

Aims: To assess health professionals’ understanding of nutrition in pregnancy, particularly for women with diabetes, and the utilisation of local nutrition resources.

Methods: An 11 item questionnaire was distributed to Northern Territory (NT) health professionals involved in the care of pregnant women. For those who provide nutritional advice, confidence level was self-reported on a numerical scale of 1-10. Those who do not provide nutritional advice could include reasons. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata/IC version 14.1.

Results: Eighty-two questionnaires were completed by midwives (47.6%), medical practitioners (14.6%), diabetes educators (12.2%), nurses (9.8%), dietitians (8.5%) and Aboriginal health practitioners (2.4%). Eighty-nine percent provide nutritional information to pregnant women; 75.6% use their organisation’s recommended resources. The mean confidence rating when discussing nutritional requirements of pregnancy was 6.3±1.9, with the majority (87.8%) reasonably confident or more. Those who do not use the recommended resources reported lack of awareness of such resources.  A similar number of respondents (85.2%) provide nutritional advice to women who have diabetes in pregnancy, compared to advice to general pregnant women (89.0%). However, the mean confidence rating for discussing carbohydrate types and amounts was lower (5.5±2.3). Sixty-seven percent of respondents were reasonably confident in providing carbohydrate education, vs. 87.8% of respondents being confident discussing general nutritional requirements of pregnancy (p=0.007). Eighty-five percent discussed weight gain, however, only 53.7% monitor weight each antenatal visit.