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Research Paper | Nutrition Science | Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026 | Pages: 506 - 514 | India
A Study on How Frequently Pregnant Women of Kashmir Consume Meals and Nutritional Supplements
Abstract: Evaluating the consumption of a diet among expecting mothers is highly significant, as eating habits of pregnant women can seriously affect fetal growth and, at the same time, may yield either beneficial or detrimental impacts on both the mother and the fetus. A well-balanced diet rich in nutrients is critical for a healthy pregnancy, as insufficient nutrition can seriously affect the development of the fetus and maternal health post-delivery. Therefore, it becomes highly important to study the dietary pattern of pregnant women in a place like Kashmir so as to improve health benefits for both children and their mothers and to fill the knowledge gap in pregnancy nutrition research within the particular region. This investigation focuses on analyzing the meal frequency and nutritional supplement consumption among pregnant women in their second trimester in Kashmir. The current study, which involves the purposeful sample of 350 expecting mothers, was carried out in the Maternity Hospital of the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Soura, Srinagar. The purposive sampling process comprised a precisely developed interview and questionnaire, which were aimed at collecting information from participants about their nutritional supplements and sociodemographic variables. This particular method is generally used in nutritional epidemiology to categorize active participants based on their nutritional status and dietary habits. The data showed that 42.3% of the women were between the ages of 25 and 30. The majorities of participants were from nuclear families and tended to live in cities rather than rural areas. The key study findings have revealed that all respondents consume rice, wheat, and milk on a daily basis. The majority of the pregnant women have been reported eating meat once a week, with more than half eating chicken every week. Fewer than half of individuals ate eggs and leafy green vegetables on a regular basis. Furthermore, the majority of the participants took folic acid, iron, and calcium supplements during their gestation period. The basic statistical tools used in the analysis of the reported data were the mean, standard deviation, and p-value. In conclusion, this study provides the importance of dietary diversity and supplementation for pregnant women in Kashmir.
Keywords: Fetus, Food frequency, Nutrition, Pregnancy, Respondents, Supplements
How to Cite?: Iram Rashid, Shafat A. Latoo, "A Study on How Frequently Pregnant Women of Kashmir Consume Meals and Nutritional Supplements", Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 506-514, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26706122621, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26706122621