Background: Previous studies suggest many pregnant women are under-consuming fatty fish and are deficient in omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids.
Background: Previous studies suggest many pregnant women are under-consuming fatty fish and are deficient in omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids.
Methods: A 10-question survey distributed to expectant mothers via an online survey and via paper form through 3 obstetric clinics over a 2-month period.
Results: Of the 104 participants, 82% consumed less than 2-3 servings of fish per week, and at least 30% were confused about mercury content. Over 60% of doctors did not provide recommendations regarding ω-3 intake. One-third of participants neither consumed the recommended amount of fish nor took an ω-3 supplement. Nearly 98% took an ω-3 supplement when advised by a doctor.
Conclusion: Knowledge regarding the safety and importance of fish consumption and/or ω- 3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy is inconsistent. Improved informational standards may be warranted.
","abstract_html":"<p>Background: Previous studies suggest many pregnant women are under-consuming fatty fish and are deficient in omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids.</p> <p>Background: Previous studies suggest many pregnant women are under-consuming fatty fish and are deficient in omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids.</p> <p>Methods: A 10-question survey distributed to expectant mothers via an online survey and via paper form through 3 obstetric clinics over a 2-month period.</p> <p>Results: Of the 104 participants, 82% consumed less than 2-3 servings of fish per week, and at least 30% were confused about mercury content. Over 60% of doctors did not provide recommendations regarding ω-3 intake. One-third of participants neither consumed the recommended amount of fish nor took an ω-3 supplement. Nearly 98% took an ω-3 supplement when advised by a doctor.</p> <p>Conclusion: Knowledge regarding the safety and importance of fish consumption and/or ω- 3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy is inconsistent. Improved informational standards may be warranted.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Ess, Jessica L"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Health Sciences","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Judi Brooks, PhD, RD, Chair","Rubina Haque, PhD, RD","Kyunghee Choi, MS, RD"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2010,"date_issued":"2010-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2010-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:36Z","subjects":["Medicine and Health Sciences","Nutrition"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/273","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Judi Brooks, PhD, RD, Chair","Rubina Haque, PhD, RD","Kyunghee Choi, MS, RD"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Ess, Jessica L"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2010-11-18T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Health Sciences"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Medicine and Health Sciences","Nutrition"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/273"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Background: Previous studies suggest many pregnant women are under-consuming fatty fish and are deficient in omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids.
Background: Previous studies suggest many pregnant women are under-consuming fatty fish and are deficient in omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids.
Methods: A 10-question survey distributed to expectant mothers via an online survey and via paper form through 3 obstetric clinics over a 2-month period.
Results: Of the 104 participants, 82% consumed less than 2-3 servings of fish per week, and at least 30% were confused about mercury content. Over 60% of doctors did not provide recommendations regarding ω-3 intake. One-third of participants neither consumed the recommended amount of fish nor took an ω-3 supplement. Nearly 98% took an ω-3 supplement when advised by a doctor.
Conclusion: Knowledge regarding the safety and importance of fish consumption and/or ω- 3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy is inconsistent. Improved informational standards may be warranted.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Current perceptions regarding the importance and safety of fish consumption and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation among pregnant women"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Judi Brooks, PhD, RD, Chair","Rubina Haque, PhD, RD","Kyunghee Choi, MS, RD"],"dc:creator":["Ess, Jessica L"],"dc:date.available":["2010-11-18T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Background: Previous studies suggest many pregnant women are under-consuming fatty fish and are deficient in omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids.
Background: Previous studies suggest many pregnant women are under-consuming fatty fish and are deficient in omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids.
Methods: A 10-question survey distributed to expectant mothers via an online survey and via paper form through 3 obstetric clinics over a 2-month period.
Results: Of the 104 participants, 82% consumed less than 2-3 servings of fish per week, and at least 30% were confused about mercury content. Over 60% of doctors did not provide recommendations regarding ω-3 intake. One-third of participants neither consumed the recommended amount of fish nor took an ω-3 supplement. Nearly 98% took an ω-3 supplement when advised by a doctor.
Conclusion: Knowledge regarding the safety and importance of fish consumption and/or ω- 3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy is inconsistent. Improved informational standards may be warranted.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/273"],"dc:subject":["Medicine and Health Sciences","Nutrition"],"dc:title":["Current perceptions regarding the importance and safety of fish consumption and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation among pregnant women"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Health Sciences"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:36Z"}