A Study on Pregnant Mothers’ Knowledge and Self-Management Toward Prenatal Care Services in Baghdad City

Abstract

Background- Prenatal care services refers to activities a pregnant woman receives during pregnancy to ensure a healthy outcome for herself and her newborn. However, only limited studies have so far been done to assess the pregnant mothers’ knowledge and self-management toward prenatal care services in the Baghdad City.

Objective- This study is aimed at assessing the pregnant mothers’ knowledge and self-management toward prenatal care services attending primary health care facilities in Baghdad City.

Methodology- A descriptive cross-sectional study design was utilized, (206) pregnant women taking prenatal care services at selected three primary health care centers of Baghdad City were the study population for the period from 5 / January / 2020 to 15 / October / 2020. A structured questionnaire was used as a tool for data collection. The data were collected through face to face interview technique and by using questionnaire format. Data were analyzed through the application of descriptive and inferential statistical analysis.

Results- A total of two hundred and six (206) pregnant women participated in the study with a response rate of (100%). Results showed that nearly half of pregnant mothers ages were between (18-25) years, (46.6%) were illiterate, (49.5%) from moderate socioeconomic status. Half of pregnant mothers had less than five children, (43.7%) of husbands were smokers, (47.6%) of mothers provided with health education regarding prenatal care services. The results indicated that there is statistically significant of mother’s knowledge with their socio-economic status, age, and their occupational status and sources of information while no statistically significant in regard to number of living children, smoking of husbands and health education regarding prenatal care services during antenatal period. Majority of pregnant mothers (85.4%) has no any information about oral hygiene and dental care during pregnancy, while in relation to self- management of mothers, results showed they were poorly managed especially toward taking medication without doctor prescription, performing blood test prior to the pregnancy and the need to receive tetanus toxoid vaccine during prenatal period.

Conclusions- The Overall Knowledge of pregnant women toward prenatal care services was low. Results concluded that pregnant mothers had inadequate knowledge on specific aspects of prenatal care services, while the self- management of mothers were poor especially toward taking medication without doctor prescription, performing blood test prior to the pregnancy and the need to receive tetanus toxoid vaccine during prenatal period.

Recommendations- Encouraging maternal education, building the capacity of healthcare providers, making basic infrastructures available at primary health care facilities could improve the knowledge and self-management of pregnant mothers. In addition, the study recommended the need for more health education specifically concerning the benefits of colostrum, importance of breastfeeding, performing blood test prior to the pregnancy and receiving tetanus vaccine during prenatal period.