Nutritional knowledge, attitudes and practices among women of reproductive age in the United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional study

The food a mother eats before and during pregnancy is more than just fuel for her own body; it is the foundational material for a new life. From the very first moments of development, the nutrients available to a fetus shape its growth, its brain, and its future health. Scientists have long understood that a lack of essential vitamins can lead to serious complications, while a balanced diet supports a healthy pregnancy. Yet, knowing what to eat and actually eating it are two different things. In many parts of the world, women of childbearing age may hold misconceptions about nutrition, believing they are well-informed when they are not, or following habits that do not align with medical advice. Understanding the gap between what people know, how they feel about nutrition, and what they actually do is crucial for public health, especially in rapidly developing nations where dietary habits are shifting.

In the United Arab Emirates, a team of researchers set out to examine this gap among women of reproductive age. They wanted to see what these women knew about the specific nutrients needed for pregnancy, how they felt about the importance of diet, and whether their daily habits matched scientific recommendations. The study focused on three critical micronutrients: iron, which helps carry oxygen in the blood; folic acid, which is vital for the development of the baby's brain and spine; and vitamin B12, which supports nerve function and blood cell formation. By surveying nearly four hundred women living across the country, the researchers aimed to map the landscape of nutritional awareness and identify where education might be falling short.

The researchers conducted their work in early 2024, asking women between the ages of eighteen and forty-nine to fill out a detailed online questionnaire. The survey asked about their background, their history of pregnancy, and their specific knowledge about nutrition. To make sense of the answers, the team established clear benchmarks. They decided that a woman would be considered to have "adequate" knowledge only if she answered at least seventy percent of the questions correctly. Similarly, her daily habits would be rated as "good" practices if she met that same seventy percent threshold. For attitudes, they looked at whether her feelings about nutrition were above or below the average score of the group. This approach allowed them to sort the participants into distinct groups and see how different factors, like age or where they lived, influenced their results.

The findings revealed a surprising disconnect between knowledge and experience. Only twenty-nine percent of the women surveyed demonstrated adequate nutritional knowledge, meaning that nearly three out of four women did not know enough about the specific dietary needs of pregnancy. This lack of knowledge was not evenly distributed. Younger women, particularly those between eighteen and twenty-four, scored significantly higher than older women. In fact, the oldest group, women aged thirty-five to forty-nine, showed the lowest levels of understanding, with more than eighty-three percent of them falling into the category of having inadequate knowledge. This suggests that as women age, their awareness of specific nutritional needs may decline, or perhaps they rely on older information that is no longer current.

Contrary to what one might expect, having been pregnant before did not make a woman more knowledgeable. In fact, women who had never been pregnant knew more about nutrition than those who had experienced pregnancy. Similarly, women with no children showed better knowledge than those who already had multiple children. The researchers also found that where a woman lived mattered. Those in Dubai and Abu Dhabi tended to know more than women in other emirates. Interestingly, being a student was a strong predictor of knowledge; students scored higher than employed women or housewives. However, having a university degree did not guarantee better knowledge, a finding that challenged the usual assumption that higher education always leads to better health literacy.

When the researchers looked at specific nutrients, a clear pattern emerged. Most women, regardless of their overall knowledge level, knew that folic acid was important. Awareness of iron was also relatively high. However, knowledge about vitamin B12 was surprisingly low. More than half of the women who lacked overall nutritional knowledge believed that vitamin B12 was not essential during pregnancy, a significant gap in understanding that could have serious health implications. Despite these knowledge gaps, the actual habits of the women were better than their test scores suggested. About seventy-three percent of the participants reported having good nutritional practices during their pregnancies. This indicates that many women were doing the right things, perhaps by following general advice or listening to healthcare providers, even if they could not explain the science behind those choices.

The study also explored how feelings about nutrition influenced behavior. Women who held positive attitudes toward healthy eating were more likely to practice good nutrition. There was a clear link between what a woman knew and what she did; those with adequate knowledge were more likely to have good practices than those with poor knowledge. However, the researchers noted that money and economic status did not tell the whole story. While wealthier families might have better access to food, the data showed that women with moderate incomes sometimes practiced better nutrition than those with the highest incomes. This suggests that financial resources alone do not ensure a healthy diet; education and access to accurate information play a more decisive role.

The researchers concluded that while many women in the United Arab Emirates are managing to maintain good dietary habits, there is a significant need to improve the depth of their understanding. The high rate of good practices is encouraging, but the low level of specific knowledge, particularly regarding vitamin B12, leaves women vulnerable to gaps in care. The study suggests that future health campaigns should focus on targeted education, especially for older women and those who have already had children, to ensure that their knowledge keeps pace with medical recommendations. By bridging the gap between what women know and what they do, healthcare providers can help ensure that the next generation of children in the UAE starts life with the best possible nutritional foundation.