Empowerment as a way to improve nutrition in pregnancy in Waru Jaya, West Java Indonesia : an action research study

Wiarsih, Wiwin (2002) Empowerment as a way to improve nutrition in pregnancy in Waru Jaya, West Java Indonesia : an action research study. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to use empowerment as a means of working with pregnant women in Waru Jaya village, rural West Java, Indonesia to improve their nutrition in pregnancy. Pregnant women in developing countries are at increased risk for poor nutrition and as a result experience increased incidence of morbidity and mortality for themselves and their infants. Although poverty and poor socioeconomic conditions are the major causes of this poor nutrition, other limitations, such as, cultural prohibitions, household food distribution, and attitudes toward women make the situation worse. -- In this study I worked with 14 lower-socioeconomic pregnant women and cadres (village volunteers) over a four month period, using a participatory action research methodology. The aim was to assist the women both to become empowered and to improve their nutrition. Freire's empowerment model of education was the theoretical framework for the research. -- Findings from the study suggested the women were becoming empowered as evidenced by them gaining new knowledge, being motivated to change, making changes in nutritional practice, weighing cultural beliefs, increasing self-confidence, developing social relationships, improving decision-making abilities, and working to overcome barriers. The barriers that the women continued to experience were poverty, availability of nutritious food in the village, and availability of health and nutritional care. -- A model was developed to describe the empowerment process that occurred. The research, although limited to these women and their situation, does have implications for nursing practice, education, and research, and for nutrition policy especially in developing countries.

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