DOI 10.1515/jpm-2013-0296 J. Perinat. Med. 2015; 43(4): 445–448
Mariam S. Alkaabi, Lamia K. Alsenaidi and Hisham Mirghani*
Women’s knowledge and attitude towards pregnancy in a high-income developing country Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitudes among women in a high-income developing country regarding pregnancy and antenatal care. Methods: Women who participated in the study were asked to complete a questionnaire. The questionnaire enquired about age, level of education, Internet use, marital status, and employment. It also included questions regarding their knowledge of ultrasound, the effects of sexual activity and other exercise during pregnancy, breast feeding, and premature delivery. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS. Results: The total number of women included in this study was 205. A total of 115 women (56.1%) thought that the most important benefit of ultrasound was to discover fetal abnormalities. Only 75 (36.6%) thought that regular exercise was not harmful during pregnancy. Of the total respondents 116 (56.6%) of 205 thought that sex during pregnancy was harmful to the fetus or did not know. Age (P = 0.001), marital status (P = 0.001) and working status (P = 0.005) were found to significantly affect their knowledge. Conclusion: Knowledge about pregnancy among Emirati women is low. There is a need for effective prenatal classes that focus on educating women about issues related to pregnancy and antenatal care. Keywords: Attitude; developing country; health; knowledge; pregnancy; women. *Corresponding author: Hisham Mirghani, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE, Tel.: +971 37137562, Fax: +971 3762076, E-mail: [email protected] Mariam S. Alkaabi and Lamia K. Alsenaidi: College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE
to identify defects in health care services and to develop strategies for improvement. However, pregnant women’s knowledge and attitudes towards pregnancy are affected by several factors such as accessibility to services, maternal education, health care providers’ attitudes towards pregnant women, and cultural beliefs [15]. The literature is lacking in reports of studies that investigate women’s knowledge and attitudes towards pregnancy in high-income developing countries where free accessible health services are available. Consequently, the aim of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitudes among women in a high-income developing country towards pregnancy and antenatal care.
Materials and methods A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted with women of childbearing age who were resident in Al Ain District, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). A convenience sample was invited to participate in this study. Women were recruited from the Family Development Institute (FDI), Tawam Hospital, and Al Khabisi Primary Health Clinic. The FDI provides an opportunity for mature students to continue their school education. All Arabic-speaking females between the ages of 16 and 45 years, and who were UAE citizens, were included in this study. Those who agreed to participate gave written informed consent and were asked to complete a 25-item questionnaire. The questionnaire asked for details of their age, level of education, Internet use, marital status, and employment. It also included questions regarding the respondents’ knowledge and beliefs about ultrasound, sexual activity during pregnancy, exercise during pregnancy, breast feeding, and premature delivery. The study was approved by the Medical District Human Research Ethics Committee. All collected data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS (IBM SPSS statistics 21, NY, USA), and a P-value of
Mariam S. Alkaabi, Lamia K. Alsenaidi and Hisham Mirghani*
Women’s knowledge and attitude towards pregnancy in a high-income developing country Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitudes among women in a high-income developing country regarding pregnancy and antenatal care. Methods: Women who participated in the study were asked to complete a questionnaire. The questionnaire enquired about age, level of education, Internet use, marital status, and employment. It also included questions regarding their knowledge of ultrasound, the effects of sexual activity and other exercise during pregnancy, breast feeding, and premature delivery. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS. Results: The total number of women included in this study was 205. A total of 115 women (56.1%) thought that the most important benefit of ultrasound was to discover fetal abnormalities. Only 75 (36.6%) thought that regular exercise was not harmful during pregnancy. Of the total respondents 116 (56.6%) of 205 thought that sex during pregnancy was harmful to the fetus or did not know. Age (P = 0.001), marital status (P = 0.001) and working status (P = 0.005) were found to significantly affect their knowledge. Conclusion: Knowledge about pregnancy among Emirati women is low. There is a need for effective prenatal classes that focus on educating women about issues related to pregnancy and antenatal care. Keywords: Attitude; developing country; health; knowledge; pregnancy; women. *Corresponding author: Hisham Mirghani, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE, Tel.: +971 37137562, Fax: +971 3762076, E-mail: [email protected] Mariam S. Alkaabi and Lamia K. Alsenaidi: College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE
to identify defects in health care services and to develop strategies for improvement. However, pregnant women’s knowledge and attitudes towards pregnancy are affected by several factors such as accessibility to services, maternal education, health care providers’ attitudes towards pregnant women, and cultural beliefs [15]. The literature is lacking in reports of studies that investigate women’s knowledge and attitudes towards pregnancy in high-income developing countries where free accessible health services are available. Consequently, the aim of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitudes among women in a high-income developing country towards pregnancy and antenatal care.
Materials and methods A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted with women of childbearing age who were resident in Al Ain District, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). A convenience sample was invited to participate in this study. Women were recruited from the Family Development Institute (FDI), Tawam Hospital, and Al Khabisi Primary Health Clinic. The FDI provides an opportunity for mature students to continue their school education. All Arabic-speaking females between the ages of 16 and 45 years, and who were UAE citizens, were included in this study. Those who agreed to participate gave written informed consent and were asked to complete a 25-item questionnaire. The questionnaire asked for details of their age, level of education, Internet use, marital status, and employment. It also included questions regarding the respondents’ knowledge and beliefs about ultrasound, sexual activity during pregnancy, exercise during pregnancy, breast feeding, and premature delivery. The study was approved by the Medical District Human Research Ethics Committee. All collected data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS (IBM SPSS statistics 21, NY, USA), and a P-value of
