Knowledge attitudes and practices among husbands on some aspects of maternal care in Kahawatte MOH Area in Rathnapura District.

Abstract

This cross sectional study was carried out in the Kahawatte MOH area from 15.07.2004 to 15.09.2004. The study population was families with infants less than six weeks old. The data on knowledge and attitudes was obtained by questioning the husbands’ directly while data on practices was obtained by questioning the wives using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Independent observations by PHM during home visits were obtained to validate the data on selected practices. The study found that the husbands in the study population had a satisfactory knowledge of pregnancy. However their knowledge on Rubella immunization, time to commence antenatal care, risk conditions and danger signals during pregnancy, basic investigations during pregnancy. Tetanus Toxoid immunization, expected weight gain during pregnancy, impacts of anemia on pregnant mother, tablets given at the antenatal clinic, tasks to be completed before being discharged after delivery, danger signals during post partum period, abnormal behaviour after delivery, cut off weight of Low Birth weight, return of fertility after delivery, and the correct time to commence post partum contraception was unsatisfactory. Overall knowledge on selected aspects of maternal care was significantly different among the different educational levels. Although the study population had favorable attitudes towards the village antenatal clinic, assisting wife, providing nutritious food need to take the tablets given at the clinic, mental health of the pregnant wife need to provide special care and attention. They had unfavorable attitudes towards accompanying the wife to ante natal clinic and discussing with health staff regarding pregnant/post partum mother. The study population had frequently encouraged the wife to attend antenatal clinic, enquired regarding the advice given at the clinic, provided facilities to attend clinics, took joint decisions regarding the hospital for delivery, and provided nutritious food for the pregnant mother and post partum mother, was concerned on consumption of nutritious foods, and made arrangements to assist during the post partum period. However, majority of the study population had seldom or never accompanied the wife to antenatal clinic, enquired regarding weight gain during pregnancy, and discussed with health staff regarding pregnant or post partum mother's health. It is recommended to encourage male participation in reproductive health programmes