Knowledge and practices about routine antenatal care in pregnant women

Abstract

Introduction: In order to have healthy mother and baby, adequate antenatal care is a must. Poor antenatal care is an important risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes among women 1 So this study was done to assess the knowledge and practices of antenatal women in rural central India and also that despite having adequate knowledge about antenatal care what prevents them from having that desired level of care. Material and methods: This was a cross sectional study done in January 2019 on 100 antenatal women with full term pregnancy in Vidisha district. Data was collected using predesigned proforma. After the data was collected using predesigned questionnaire, subjects were also counseled regarding the importance of regular antenatal care and about breastfeeding and contraception. Results: Majorty of women were in 20-30 yrs age group (95%). 70% were Hindu, 42% were primigravida 58% were multigravid only 88% remembered there LMP. Only 10% confirmed their pregnancy by upt, 50% had their 1 st visit to hospital in 1 st trimester 40% in 2 nd trimester & 10% in third trimester 80% women had their 1 st usg in 2 nd trimester 100% received tt vaccination, 90% received iron & calcium supplements but only 60% continued to take them till term when asked about the danger signs in pregnancy, pain as a danger sign was said by 80% of women, bleeding pv was said by 66% of women, leaking pv was said by 56% women whereas fever was said by only 10%, loss/ decreased fetal movements was said by only 10% of women, also excessive vomiting was as a danger sign was said by 10% women only knowledge about post partum contraception was poor 100% of women knew about early initiation of breastfeeding and 80% were willing to continue till one year. 83% of mothers said that breastfeeding should be started within 24 h. when asked about the reasons for their inadequate follow-up during pregnancy, lack of adequate knowledge (70%), lack of company to visit the hospital (30%), inaccessibility (8%), were major causes. 33% women said they did not have any complains so they did not have routine antenatal care.