Knowledge and Dietary Practices on Vitamin A and Iron Among Maasai Pregnant Women: A Mixed-Method Study, Ngorongoro, Tanzania

Background: Provision of micronutrients knowledge is important during pregnancy as it informs mothers what to eat and avoid, to ensure sufficient micronutrient absorption by the mothers and fetuses. Most studies focus on general nutrition knowledge and dietary practices, but there is minimal known about micronutrient knowledge especially in pastoral societies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explain the current micronutrient knowledge and dietary practices of pregnant women in this unique pastoral society. Methods: This is a mixed-method study that involves focus group discussions and questionnaires in assessing the micronutrient knowledge and frequency micronutrients dietary practices of Maasai pregnant women from one week to thirty-six weeks pregnant. Chi-square test and descriptive statistics, such as percentages, frequency distribution and measures of central tendency, were used to assess socio-demographic data, micronutrients knowledge and frequency of micronutrients dietary practices and the comparison between knowledge and dietary practices, while inductive thematic content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Results: In total, 140 questionnaires were completed with a response rate of 100% and 32 participants drawn from this group attended one of four focus group discussions. The study found that most participants had good knowledge of dietary iron, while less than a quarter (24.3%) had good knowledge of vitamin A. Moreover, there was a statistical significance difference (P=0.043) between knowledge and dietary practices. Low dietary micronutrient intake was primarily due to cultural restrictions, prohibition in cultivating and unavailability of micronutrients rich foods in this geographical area. Conclusion: The majority of the study participants had good knowledge of iron compared to vitamin A; however, they do not translate the knowledge in dietary practices. Therefore, the Government of Tanzania through Ministry of Education and Health should introduce different interventions to increase micronutrients knowledge and practices in pastoral societies.