Abstract

Despite the importance of prenatal nutrition, many studies find inadequate calcium intake among pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of the Theory of Planned Behavior in explaining the intentions and the actual consumption of milk among pregnant women participating in or eligible for WIC. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect information regarding attitudes, subjective norms, perceived control, milk allocation within the family, intentions and consumption of milk. The survey questionnaire was developed using open-ended questions and interviews with 112 pregnant women. One-hundred-eighty women recruited from prenatal clinics completed the survey questionnaire. Multiple regression was used separately to investigate the association of factors to intentions and to the consu-mption of milk, as proposed in the theory. Milk allocation within the family was used as an exploratory variable to explain milk consumption. Study findings revealed that all three factors, attitudes, subjective norms and perceived control contributed to the model in explaining intentions (explained variance : 36.2%), with perceived control being most important. For milk consumption, intentions and perceived control were related significantly to actual consumption, while milk allocation within the family was not (explained variance : 44.6%). These findings suggest that perceived control is important in understanding both intentions and milk consumption, providing empirical evidence for the Theory of Planned Behavior. With respect to the role of perceived control, more strong evidence was provided in explaining intentions. Findings suggest that educational interventions to increase milk consumption among pregnant women should incorporate strategies to enhance the perception of control, and to strengthen positive attitudes and to elicit social support from significant other. (Korean J Community Nutrition 1(2) 239-249, 1996)

• Keywords: theory of planned behavior; pregnant women; attitudes; subjective norms; perceived control milk consumption.;