Factors Associated with Vegetable Consumption among Pregnant Women Attending Primary Health Care Facilities in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria

Vegetables provide key nutrients essential to promoting and maintaining good health.This study aimed to determine the barriers, and factors that improve consumption of vegetables among pregnant women attending Primary Health Care facilities in Patani Local Government Area (L.G.A) of Delta State, Nigeria.This study was a population-based descriptive cross-sectional survey of 368 pregnant women aged 15-49 years conducted in Patani L.G.A, Plateau State, Nigeria using a multi-stage cluster random sampling design.Data were collected by face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire.The results were expressed as frequency and percentage, level of significance was calculated at a confidence interval of 95% and P<0.05.Of the 368 pregnant women, age group 21-25 years and 26-30 years with a prevalence of 95 (25.8%) and 90 (24.5%) respectively were the highest age groups.Seventy (29.2%) of respondents with secondary education consumed vegetables seven times.There was a significant association between educational status and the number of times vegetables were consumed (P = 0.037).Eight (50.0%) of respondents with no formal education spent N50 -N 100, while 17 (30.9%) of respondents with tertiary education spent above N 400 respectively to purchase vegetables.The association between educational status and the cost of vegetables purchased was statistically significant (P = 0.009).Insufficient income (31.0%),Distance to market (26.4%), and price of vegetables (20.9%) were the most common barriers to vegetable consumption.Educational and financial status significantly influences the number of times vegetables are consumed by respondents.Having your household vegetable garden is recommended to improve vegetable consumption.