TO ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE REGARDING 1000DAY NUTRITION AMONG HEALTH CARE PHYSICIANS OF TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS IN PESHAWAR

ABSTRACT
Objectives: The objective of present study was to document existing knowledge, attitude and practice regarding
nutrition in first thousands days of life among health physicians of tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar and to provide
recommendations to formulate strategy.
1000 day nitrition: Nutrition during first 1000 days of life i.e. period from start of mother’s pregnancy to her child’s
second birthday is known as 1000 days nutrition.
Materials and methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in Khyber teaching hospital,Lady Reading
Hospital and Hayat abad Medical Complex Peshawar for months from June 2016 to August 2016. Sampling technique
was convenient non probability. A size of 150 was calculated using Rao software. Medical officers, gynecologists,
peadiatricians, medical specialists were included in this study. Data was collected using self structured questionnaire
as developed according to WHO guidelines. Data was entered into and analysed using SPSS 21.
Results: According to present study the knowledge about 1000 days nutrition was 14%. The attitude towards importance
of exclusive breastfeeding was that 96% doctors considered it important. 87.3% considered lack of Vitamine A
to be highly serious. As far as practice was concerned 90% doctors prescribed supplements, only 8% had attended
seminars related to nutrition.Only 5.3% provided informative material for mothers regarding nutrition.
Conclusions: It was concluded that Health care physicians in teaching hospitals had adequate knowledge regarding
nutrition but they did not practice sufficient measures to meet the nutrition needs and refresh their knowledge.
Key words: Knowledge, attitude, practice, 1000 day nutrition, Health care physicians