Knowledge and Practices Regarding Self-Management of Minor Ailments among Pregnant Mothers

Abstract

Background: During pregnancy, mother faces many minor discomforts due to physiological, anatomical, psychological, biochemical and immunological adaptations occurs in their body. The wellbeing of pregnant mothers is threatened due to these minor discomforts and lead to unnecessary hospitalization. This study was aimed to assess the knowledge and practices regarding self-management of minor discomforts among pregnant mothers attending to selected Antenatal Clinics (ANC), Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area, Batticaloa. Subjects and Method: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in selected antenatal clinics among all registered antenatal mothers (n=238) attending to these ANCs. A validated and pretested interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Knowledge on self-management of minor disorders was dependent variable and independent variables were the socio demographic status, economic status and obstetric details of pregnant mothers. Descriptive and inferential statistic was performed to analyze the relevant data. Results: Nearly half of the participants (54.6%) were in 20–29 years and 62% of them were primiparous mothers. Around 93% of them were experienced nausea and vomiting during their pregnancy and among them all were reported nausea and vomiting has been occurred during their 1st trimester. About 75% of them mentioned that home remedies are the best way to selfmanage the minor discomforts. The mean knowledge score on minor discomforts and selfmanagement was 12.16 (SD= 14.64). Majority of participants (94.1%) scored less than 50%. Knowledge score was significantly associated with participant’s ethnicity, religion, monthly income, educational level and their parity. Conclusion: The prevalence of minor discomforts among pregnant mothers was high and pregnant mothers have expressed that minor discomforts can be managed with home remedies. Further, knowledge level regarding minor discomforts and their self-management was inadequate.