A Study to Assess the Knowledge of Antenatal Mothers on Prevention of Nutritional Anaemia in Selected Hospital, Thrissur With a View to Develop a Self Instructional Module

Nutritional problems have serious public health significance impacting psychological, physical, developmental, behavioural and work performance of pregnant women. Anaemia is a widespread public health problem associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality, especially in pregnant women and young children. Poor nutritional status and anaemia in pregnancy have consequences that extend over generations. Hence a study was undertaken to assess the knowledge of antenatal mothers on prevention of nutritional anaemia in selected hospital at Thrissur with a view to develop a self instructional module. It is a quantitative descriptive research approach and the study was based on Health belief model. After getting informed consent, 100 antenatal mothers were selected for the study by using non probability purposive sampling. Structured knowledge questionnaire were administered to get a base line data about the mother, and also to assess the knowledge on prevention of nutritional anaemia. Followed by the researcher has provided the self instructional module on prevention of nutritional anemia to each samples. The statistical analysis of the study shows that, among 100 samples, 21 (21%) were having inadequate knowledge, 71 (71%) were having moderate knowledge and only 8 (8%) were having adequate knowledge regarding prevention of nutritional anemia the study also reveals that there is a significant association between the knowledge levels of antenatal mothers with selected demographic variables like age in years and source of information. However, the distribution of self instructional module will help the antenatal mothers to prevent nutritional anemia and further complications.

Background and Purpose: The purpose of the study was to assess the knowledge of antenatal mothers on prevention of nutritional anemia in selected hospital at Thrissur with a view to develop a self instructional module. The study was conducted in Aswini Hospital, Thrissur. The data collection was carried out in the month of January for a period of 4 weeks. The data was collected from 100 antenatal mothers though a structured questionnaire and collected the baseline data and also find out the knowledge of antenatal mothers regarding prevention of nutritional anemia. The samples were selected by non probability purposive sampling technique. After the data collection, the prepared self instructional module was distributed individually to the sample. The findings were tabulated, analyzed and interpreted.

Objective: To assess the existing level of knowledge of antenatal mothers regarding prevention of nutritional anaemia.

* To associate the level of knowledge of antenatal mothers regarding prevention of nutritional anaemia with selected demographic variables.

* To develop a self instructional module on prevention of nutritional anaemia.

Design: A descriptive survey design was used

Settings: The setting is the physical location and conditions in which data collection takes place in a study. The present study was conducted in the antenatal OPD's of Aswini Hospital (P) Ltd, Thrissur. In this study sample consisted of 50 mothers of preterm infants admitted at Maternity Hospital, Thrissur, Kerala.

Samples: Antenatal mothers, who meet the inclusion criteria were taken as samples. The sample size was 100.

Result: It reveals that there is a significant association between the knowledge levels of antenatal mothers regarding prevention of nutritional anemia and selected demographic variables like age in years and source of information. It also reveals that, there no association between knowledge of antenatal mothers and their demographic variables like religion, education of the mother, occupation of the mother, education of the husband, occupation of the husband, family monthly income, type of family, no of family members, gravida, no of children and dietary pattern.

Conclusion: Antenatal mothers are having inadequate knowledge regarding prevention of nutritional anemia. Moreover, the researcher found that there is no significant association between knowledge of antenatal mothers with selected demographic variables like religion, education of the mother, occupation of the mother, education of the husband, occupation of the husband, family monthly income, type of family, no of family members, gravida, no of children and dietary pattern.