Nutritional fulfillment behavior of pregnant women based on the health belief model theory in Indonesia.

Abstract

Introduction: malnutrition in pregnant women will cause impaired fetal development, premature delivery, impaired baby growth, and the risk of causing chronic disease. The Health Belief Model is used and has an important role in directing pregnant women to engage in preventive health behavior, namely preventing malnutrition.

Objective: this study aims to analyze the factors related to the nutritional fulfillment behavior of pregnant women based on the theory of the health belief model.

Methods: this research used correlational design with a cross-sectional approach. The total sample is 164 pregnant women. The variables were perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cues to action, self-efficacy, and behavior of fulfilling the nutritional needs. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using Spearman's rho with a p-value ≤ 0.05.

Result: factors related to the behavior of fulfilling nutritional needs of pregnant women are, perceived benefits (p = 0.021), perceived barriers (p = 0.034) and cues to action (p = 0.032). Meanwhile, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and self-efficacy do not correlate with the nutritional fulfillment behavior of pregnant women.

Conclusion: factors related to the behavior of fulfilling nutritional needs are perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and cues to action. Future research is expected to develop a health belief model factor for intervention to improve behavior in fulfilling nutritional needs in pregnant women.