Assessment of Self-Care Practices during Prenatal Period among Mothers in Babylon City

Abstract

Objectives: The study aims to assess the self-care practices of the antenatal mother, and to Identify the demographic characteristics of pregnant mother (Age, Level of education, occupation.. etc. ).

Methodology: A descriptive analytical design study was conducted on non-Probability (convenient sample), Starting in the period December 1^st 2014 to August the 3^rd 2015. which consists of (150) pregnant women. Were selected of (4) health centers 2 of each sector in the Hilla city as randomly selected of the general population. The researcher used rated on (3- level type Likert scale), by (Lindgren 2005) which is on the other hand the (Health practice questionnaire - II (HPQ-II ). The questionnaire was consisted of (67) items developed and adopted to measure the self-care practices of pregnant women. The current items which were grouped into comprised of two parts which includes the following: Part. I A. Socio-demographic characteristics of mothers, B. Reproductive Information. Part II. Items of pregnant mother practices. A pilot study has been carried out to test the reliability of the questionnaire and content validity has been carried out through the (22) experts in the different fields. The reliability Coefficient through of the calculated (alpha Cronbach's) was (a±= 0.827). The researcher gathered the subjects responses through the questionnaire & face-to face interview as one of the methods of data collection. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine a frequency distribution of responses for each item as reported for the entire sample.
Results: "overall" Results shows of the study showed that the final evaluation of the practice of self-care during the period of prenatal he was a good 50%.The present study demonstrated no statistically significant relationship between the demographic variables and practices of the self- care.

Conclusions: The results achieved in all studied self-care practices among mothers during pregnancy (nutritional, physical activity, personal hygiene, rest and sleep, other practices), it was of a good level of the assessment

Recommendations: The present study recommends the continuation of ministry of health and public mass media which have a great role to play in creating awareness about prenatal care among pregnant women as well as among deprived populations in the other places. Encouraging the pregnant mothers to commitment through dietary programs toward vegetable-based diets rich in a variety of vegetables, fruits and pulses minimally cereals, nuts, fat diets and sweets.