ABSTRACT

Guillermo,Ariane Jo C.,and Millano, Jhissa N., “PRENATAL CARE
PRACTICE OF PREGNANT MOTHERS: AN ASSESSMENT” an undergraduate
thesis, Aquinas University College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Legazpi City, 2012.

The study entitled Prenatal care Practice of Pregnant Mothers: An Assessment aimed to assess the prenatal care practices in Barangay Cabraran. Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions: l.)What is the demographic profile of the respondents in term of Age, Civil Status, Religion, Educational Attainment, Occupation, Trimester of Pregnancy; 2.)What are the prenatal care practices of pregnant in terms of Maternal Lifestyle; 3.)What are the problems during prenatal care practices; 4.)What recommendations will proposed in order to ;improve the pivn nronatal care practices. The locale of the studv was Baraneav Cabraran Jovellar. Albay. This was chosen since it is one of the rural barangays of Albay situated in the bit far from the province proper where mostly the residents visited at their Clinic for check-ups and sustain their proper nutrition during pregnancy.

The study was utilized the responses of the pregnant mothers of Barangay Cabraran ages 18 to 35 years old as a primary source of data. The study considered the respondents from the three Purok of the Barangay. A survey of the study questionnaire was prepared by the researchers and was used as the main instrument. The questionnaires were retrieved and the gathered data were tabulated and tallied for a clear presentation of information. The statistical instruments used in the analysis and interpretation of data were frequency, mean, percentage and ranking. From the data gathered by the researchers, the following findings were derived. On the Demographic Profile of the respondents in term of age a total of 14 or 40% comprising of the majority of the population of pregnant woman has ages between the ranges of 18- 21 years of age. The smallest age group with a frequency 3 or 8.57% belong to the age range of 31-35 years old. Majority of the respondents were 19 or 54.29% were married. Majority of women were pregnant in Barangay Cabraran, Jovcllar arc married thus explaining the expectation of pregnancy not only by the family but by community as well. When it comes to their religion, majority of the respondents were 22 or of 62.86% comprising Roman Catholics. Meanwhile 13 or 37.14% were non Catholics which could be subdivided into newer Christian faiths, Moslem, Buddhist and other beliefs. Based on educational attainment majority of the respondents JLJLW^W graduate with a frequency of 14 or 40% of the total population. Meanwhile 13 or 37.14% were secondary graduates having achieved a complete high school education. Eight (8) or 22.86% of the total number of ICO pendants were elementary graduates having completed their six levels of elementary education.
Out of the 35 respondents, 14 or 40% of the respondents work with the government as regular employees. There were 4 or 11.43% were unemployed or plain housewives. When it comes to trimester of pregnancy, 21 or 60% of the respondents were in their first trimester of pregnancy. There were 10 or 28.57% were in the most sensitive and organogenesis phase of pregnancy for they were still in the second trimester. Meanwhile 4 or 11.43% of the respondents were nearing the completion of their pregnancy at the third and last trimester of pregnancy. While in the area of prenatal care practices, majority of the respondents were 14 or 40% went to Out-Patient Department of District Hospitals for prenatal check-up and
11 or 31.43% of the pregnant women visited Rural Health Unit. The least pregnant women went for prenatal check-up to community health nurse and barangay health workers and the midwives. In terms of the frequency of prenatal check-ups 25 or 71.43% of the total population of respondents visit the prenatal clinic once a month. When it comes to their reasons for visiting the prenatal check-up schedules, 33 or 94.29% said that it gives the woman an opportunity to check the well being of the baby. During prenatal check-ups, 32 or 91.43% of the respondents said that there education given such as glasses, IEC’s and other techniques to impart to the pregnant woman on how to keep their pregnancy safe, to understand the changes and at the same to know the signs and symptoms that the pregnant woman should be worried off.

In their maternal lifestyle, majority with 31 or 88.57% of the respondents had vaccinations during pregnancy while 11.43% has not yet received any vaccinations. In terms of exercise during pregnancy, 27 respondents with 77.14% perform
Meanwhile 5 or 14.26% of the respondents was the least given attention in terms of exercise. In terms of adequacy of rest and relaxation majority with 27 or 77.14% of the respondents have adequate rest and relaxation. On the contrary 8 or 22.86% of the respondents have otherwise.

The findings in terms of vitamin and supplement intake were 31 or 88.57% of the respondents do take it. Only 4 or 11.43% do not take the supplements. In the problems encountered during prenatal care, it concentrated primarily on heavy work load and stresses of occupation/job which ranks first with 18 or 51.43%, of resources to suffice for vitamins, check-ups and healthy diet was rank second with 9 or25.71% of the respondents, difficulty to maintain present maternal lifestyle due to past lifestyle were 8 or 22.86% of the respondents, illnesses before and during the pregnancy with 5 or 14.29% and the inability to accept and cope with the pregnancy were 3 or 8.57% of the respondents.

Based on the findings the study yielded, the following conclusions were deduced. The respondents though within the same characteristics and fit the criteria for the study were uniquely diverse in their own ways and this were proven in their varied
demographic profiles. The general prenatal care practices of the pregnant women of Brgy. Cabraran, Jovcllar include going to the Rural Health Units for regular prenatal check-up and education on varying frequencies dependent to their trimester of pregnancy. Although a high percentage of the women follow their schedules for check-up religiously, a perceived factor for non-compliance of few was the presence of pain on the extremities that leads them not to move. Prenatal education is supported by the pregnant mothers and it has been concluded that they gain many information during this check-ups which are beneficial to them. The top 2 information which they gained OIV/ first the expected changes and the unexpected and dangerous signs which pregnant women have to note for and the second is regarding proper nutrition and lifestyle during pregnancy.

The general prenatal care practices in terms of Maternal Lifestyle include active following of immunization protocols for Tetanus Toxoid, eating a balanced meal with a little from all of elements in the food group and at the same adding a little more to the usual intake as premises to the presence of another body Waiting to be nourished inside of the womb. The most common vitamins taken are folic acid and ferrous sulfate. A factor noted for non-compliance by few women was their
ntolerance for the taste of the medications. The major problems encountered on prenatal care practices were the
following: On top rank were two factors, the difficulty to shift pre-pregnant lifestyle to present due to work and activity tolerance and emotional conflicts. Equal with this is the presence of complications such as hypertension, gestational diabetes, bleeding and easy tiredness during activities which sometimes leads them not able to comply with prenatal check-ups and sometimes even their activities of daily living. Another problem is the presence of community and old folklore practices which affect the pregnant women to focus on what practice or teaching she must follow during her preparation for her pregnancy. The last of the major problems are first the inability to comply with lifestyle changes such as balancing meals and avoidance of highly seasoned and sweet food and the inability to follow religious schedule for prenatal due to work and tasks to be done which are hindered to be done at same pace due to pregnant real state. In light of the conclusions the study has produced the following were recommended. Pregnant mothers were given priority in terms of assessing the number of available resources during their prenatal phase of pregnancies. The government must continue with these programs extending it deeper to far areas, communities and rural barangay's to continue its goal of reducing maternal deaths through the prevention of complications during child birth. Pregnant mothers must take a stand on what beliefs they would wish to practice because health professionals are very culturally sensitive in such a way that beliefs are tolerated, respected and practiced as long as they do not prospectively hinder or endanger a person’s health. Mothers must be encouraged to discuss these choices and concerns on other people meddling with their choices must be shared to their nurses or doctors for proper unison between old and new practices connecting and at the same time respecting both of wishes. The prevention of complications of pregnancy begins with developing a positive health seeking behavior. Pregnant women must have this to gain a sense of care for their body leading them to have a positive attitude towards caring for themselves then leading to compliance to what is healthy for pregnant women. For barangay health workers who are close to the community they must be the primary health care promoters in the community teaching what is right and helpful and not confuse pregnant women to make informed choices. Although folk medicine and practices have been helpful in the past, the enhancement of research and evidenced practices have allowed safe and quality health care to the people in the community especially their pregnant clienteles.