According to the ‘Life Course Perspective’ there are certain critical transitions in life that may have a long-term impact on health behaviors in later periods of life.
This PhD-project aimed to contribute to the rationale behind healthy nutrition promotion activities directed at women and their nutrition behavior in and around pregnancy, as such a critical transition.
This was done by means of cross-sectional studies on nutrition awareness, nutrition-related information-seeking behaviors and associated motivations among women before, during and after pregnancy. The concept of nutrition awareness was redefined. Special attention was paid to healthy nutrition promotion in midwifery-practices.
Results showed that: 1) women are more motivated to change nutrition-related behaviors difficult to modify at other times, 2) nutrition awareness, nutrition-related information-seeking behaviors and associated motivations are a good basis for distinguishing groups of women, and 3) healthy nutrition promotion in the midwifery-practice could be improved by taking in account these distinguishing groups.
Title Thesis: "The Pregnancy: Time for a New Beginning! Exploring Opportunities and Challenges for Healthy Nutrition Promotion"