Food suggestions, meal frequency, and dietary diversity among pregnant women: a quantitative study in Madura

During pregnancy, the nutritional requirement increases. Therefore, many nutritious foods (diverse food groups) are suggested for pregnant women. This study aimed to explore the association between food suggestions and meal frequency with dietary diversity among pregnant women. This research was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2017 in Sumenep Regency in the Eastern Madura Island, East Java Province, Indonesia. There were 282 pregnant women involved in this study. This survey presents a quantitative study of food suggestions for pregnant women. The minimum dietary diversity for women assessed dietary diversity. A coefficient contingency was done to analyse the association between variables. Most pregnant women eat 2-3x/day. More than half of pregnant women have a food suggestion (57.4%) and reach minimum dietary diversity (56%). There was a tendency that higher meal frequency contributes to higher dietary diversity but not significantly associated (p=0.214). There was a significant association between food suggestions and dietary diversity (p=0.003). Indigenous knowledge, such as food suggestions has a beneficial effect on pregnant women's diets. Pregnant women need to follow the food suggestions so they can have a good and diverse diet.