A Study to Assess Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Antenatal Care among Antenatal Women in Selected Rural Area of Haryana and Punjab State

Abstract

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is the care of the women during pregnancy. The primary aim of ANC is to achieve a healthy mother and a healthy baby at the end of pregnancy. The objectives of ANC are to promote, protect, and maintain the health of the mother during pregnancy. ANC helps to detect high-risk cases, to foresee complications, and to remove anxiety and dread associated with delivery. At the country level, two countries account for a third of global maternal deaths; India at 17% (50,000) and Nigeria at 14% (40,000).

Methodology: The study was conducted after verbal consent from the participants. The study was designed as a cross-sectional study. The study populations were pregnant women residing in rural areas of Haryana and Punjab. Three hundred pregnant females recruited randomly women were questioned regarding obstetric health history during home visit. A total of 20 questions were framed on the knowledge regarding various aspects of ANC and other questions were regarding practices and attitude related to ANC.

Results: The knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) study was conducted in a rural area of the state of Punjab and Haryana about ANC among pregnant women. It was found that knowledge, practices, and positive attitude about ANC among pregnant women score for knowledge was 64%, score for positive attitude was 79.66%, and score for ANC practices was 67%.

Conclusions: Considerable gaps were found in the KAP regarding ANC among antenatal women. Literacy is an important factor in the utilization of ANC services. To improve community, spousal and family awareness of ANC, information, education, and communication activities should be increased on ANC through community campaign, mass media, and digital phones.