Knowledge regarding Constipation and its Management during Pregnancy among Care Givers of Antenatal mothers in selected hospitals

 

Vithya. D, Swapna Mary A, Roopa B M, Chaitra B C, Laishram Dabashini Devi

Global College of Nursing, RR Nagar, Bangalore.

*Corresponding Author Email: roshini999.bk@gmail.com

 

ABSTRACT:

This is an attempt to assess the knowledge of constipation and its management during pregnancy among antenatal mothers in selected hospitals. And to prepare a learning package which may be used as a study aid to improve the knowledge level of antennal mothers. The approach used for this study was evaluative one. Pre experimental study one group pre test and post test design is used to collect the data. The independent variable of the study is Computer assisted teaching programme and dependent variable is Knowledge of antenatal mothers regarding constipation and its management. The tool used to collect data was structured knowledge questionnaire. 60 subjects the subject was selected by convenient sampling technique. The results of the study showed that the overall mean pre test knowledge of antenatal mothers was 59.48% with the standard deviation of 2.37. The mean knowledge gain by the antenatal mothers was 78.33% with the standard deviation of 1.59. The obtained "t" value 16.740 is greater than the table value at 0.01 level of significance. This supports that computer assisted teaching program on constipation and its management during pregnancy among the antenatal mothers is effective in increasing the knowledge level of antenatal mothers.

 

KEYWORDS: Constipation, Management, Pregnancy, Care givers.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Pregnancy period is a time of physical and psychological preparation of birth and parenthood. Each week of the pregnancy bring its new changes and feelings. During the pregnancy not only the genital organ changes, but also the changes occurs in anatomical, physiological and also to all systems of the body.1 Constipation is the most common digestive complaint in the India as per survey data, it occurs in 2% to 20% of the population. It is more common in pregnant women, 12% of the world-wide reports having constipation. In India the incident rate of constipation in pregnancy is 11-38% of total pregnant women.2

 

Half of pregnant women complain constipation. Constipation refers to there is abdominal pain or discomfort and bowel movements that are infrequent or hard to pass. Constipation is a common cause of painful defecation. Severe constipation includes constipation (failure to pass stools or gas) and fecal impaction, which can progress to bowel obstruction and become life-threatening.3

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

·       To assess the existing knowledge regarding constipation and its management during pregnancy among antenatal mothers in terms of pre-test.

·       To assess the knowledge of antenatal mothers regarding the constipation and its management after computer assisted teaching program in terms of post-test.

·       To determine the effectiveness of computer assisted teaching programme on constipation and its management during pregnancy among the antenatal mothers by comparing pre test and post test.

·       To find out the association between pre-test and post test knowledge scores of antenatal mothers regarding constipation and its management during pregnancy with their selected demographic variables.

 

METHODOLOGY:

Evaluative research approach is an applied form of research that involve finding 0ut how well a programme, procedure or policy is working and its goal is to assess or evaluate the success of a programme. The research design used in this study the pre - experimental with one group pre test and post test design has been used to evaluate the effectiveness of computer assisted teaching programme on knowledge regarding constipation and its management during pregnancy among antenatal mothers. In the present study non probability convenient sampling was used for the selection of subjects. Sample size of the present study consists of 60 antenatal mothers who are attending antenatal outpatient department of selected Hospitals.

 

RESULTS:

Table – 1: Distribution of Antenatal mothers by their demographic variables

Variable

Frequency

Percent

1. Age in years

 

 

a. 18-25 Years

25

41.7

b. 26-30 Years

21

35.0

c. 31-35 Years

14

23.3

2. Religion

 

 

a. Hindu

38

63.3

b. Christian

8

13.3

c. Muslim

14

23.3

3. Education

 

 

a. No Formal Education

7

11.7

b. Primary education

25

41.7

c. Secondary education

7

11.7

d. Pre-university

13

21.7

e. Degree and above

8

13.2

4. Occupation

 

 

a. House wife

23

38.3

 

 

The age distribution revealed that 41.7% (n=25) of the subjects aged between 18-25 years, 35% (n=21) were aged between 26-30 years and remaining 23.3% (n=14) were aged between 21-35 years. Majority 63.3% (n=38) of the subjects belong to Hindu religion, 13.3% (n=8) of them were Christians and remaining 23.3% (n=14) were Muslims. majority 41.7% (n=25) of the subjects primary education, 21.7% (n=13) of them secondary education, 11.7% (n=7) of them pre-university and 13.2% (n=8) of them degree and above remaining 11.7% (n=7) of them had no formal education. Majority 38.3% (n=23) of the subjects were housewife, 18.3% (n=11) of them were self employed, 10% (n=6) were government employees and remaining 20% (n=12) of them were private employees. Majority 86.7% (n=52) of the subjects lives in nuclear family and remaining 13.3% (n=8) of them lives in joint family. Majority 46.7% (n=28) of the subjects had income more than Rs. 20001, 28.3% (n=17) of them had income between Rs. 10001-15000, 16.7% (n=10) of the subjects had income of Rs. 15001-20000 and remaining 8.3% (n=5) had income of Rs. 5001-10000.Majority 60% (n=36) of the subjects take mixed diet, 35% (n=21) of them were vegetarians and remaining 5% (n=3) of them were non vegetarians. Majority 70% (n=42) of the subjects had no children and remaining 30% (n=18) of the subjects had one child. majority 85% (n=51) of the subjects were Primi Graida and remaining 15% (n=9) of them were multi gravid. 40% (n=24) of them were in II trimester and remaining 30% (n=18)of the subjects were in III trimester.

 
Table – 2: Distribution of subjects according to Pre test knowledge level                                                                                                 N=60

Knowledge level

Frequency

Percent

a. Inadequate knowledge

9

15.0

b. Moderate knowledge

51

85.0

c. Adequate knowledge

0

0.0

Total

60

100

 

 

Table  reveals the distribution of antenatal mothers according to the pretest knowledge level regarding constipation and its management. In the pre test majority 85% (n=51) of the subjects had moderate knowledge and remaining 15% (n=9) of them had inadequate knowledge.

 
Table – 3: Pre test and post test knowledge level of Antenatal mothers                                                                                           N=60

Knowledge level

Frequency

Percent

a. Inadequate knowledge

0

0.0

b. Moderate knowledge

52

86.7

c. Adequate knowledge

8

13.3

Total

60

100

 

 

Table  reveals the distribution of antenatal mothers according to the posttest knowledge level regarding constipation and its management. In the post test majority 86.7% (n=52) of the subjects had moderate knowledge and remaining 13.3% (n=8) of them had adequate knowledge.
 
Table – 4: Association of pre - test knowledge scores of Antenatal mothers with selected demographic variables                         N= 60

Demographic variables

Number

Level of Knowledge

CHI- SQUARE

TEST

Moderately adequate

Inadequate

Age

18-25 Years

25

6

19

chi square value=3.320 p=0.190

26-30 Years

21

1

20

31-35 Years

14

2

12

Religion

Hindu

38

6

32

chi  square value=  0.063

p=0.969

Christian

8

1

7

Muslim

14

2

12

Education

No-Formal Education

7

2

5

chi square value=2.604

p=0. 626

Primary education

25

2

23

Secondary education

7

1

6

Pre-university

13

2

11

Degree and above

8

2

6

Occupation

House wife

23

3

20

chi square value=4.305

p=0. 506

Self Employee

11

1

10

Govt. Employee

6

1

5

 

Private Employee

12

3

9

 

Vendor

2

1

1

Coolie

6

0

6

Family Type

Nuclear family

52

6

46

Chi square value=3.665

p=0. 056

Joint family

8

3

5

Family Income

Rs. 5001-10000

5

1

4

chi square value=0.399 p=0.941

Rs.10001-15000

17

3

14

Rs. 15001-20000

10

1

9

More than 20001

28

4

24

Type of Diet

Vegetarian

21

2

19

chi square value=1.363

p=0.506

Non Vegetarian

3

1

2

Mixed

36

6

30

Gravida Status

Primi gravida

51

7

44

chi square value=0.433 p=0.510

Multi gravida

9

2

7

Number of Children

Nil

42

5

37

chi square value=1.052

p=0.305

One

18

4

14

Gestational Age

I Trimester

18

3

15

chi square value=1.939

p=0.379

II Trimester

24

5

19

III Trimester

18

1

17

Source of information

Radio/Television/Internet

30

4

26

chi square value=1.438 p=0.697

News paper/ Books/ Journals

6

1

5

Family Members/Relatives/Friends

12

1

11

Health Personnel /Health Magazines

12

3

9

 

Table reveals the association between socio-demographic variables and the pretest level of knowledge regarding constipation and its management. All the selected demographic variables are not significantly associated with the pretest knowledge scores. The association was determined by using Pearson chi square test.

 

Table – 5: Association of post test knowledge scores of Antenatal mothers with selected demographic variables                    N= 60

Demographic variables

Number

Level of Knowledge

CHI- SQUARE

TEST

Moderately adequate

Adequate

Age

18-25 Years

25

21

4

chi  square value=2.283

p=0.319

26-30 Years

21

20

1

31-35 Years

14

11

3

Religion

Hindu

38

32

6

chi  square value= 0.667 p=0.716

Christian

8

7

1

Muslim

14

13

1

Education

No formal education

7

6

1

chi  square value=0.528

p=0. 971

Primary education

25

21

4

Secondary education

7

6

1

pre-university

13

12

1

Degree and above

8

7

1

Occupati on

House wife

23

20

3

chi  square value=3.596

 p=0. 609

Self Employee

11

10

1

Govt Employee

6

6

0

Private Employee

12

10

2

Vendor

2

1

1

Coolie

6

5

1

Family Type

Nuclear family

52

46

6

chi  square value=1.087

p=0. 297

Joint family

8

6

2

Family Income

Rs.5001-10000

5

4

1

chi  square value=0.779

p=0.854

Rs.10001-15000

17

15

2

Rs.15001-20000

10

8

2

More than 20001

28

25

3

Type of Diet

Vegetarian

21

18

3

chi  square value=0.488

p=0.784

Non Vegetarian

3

3

0

Mixed

36

31

5

Gravida Status

Primi gravida

51

43

8

chi square value=1.629

p=0.202

Multi Gravida

9

9

0

Number of Children

Nil

42

36

6

chi  square value=0.110

p=0.740

One

18

16

2

Gestational Age

I Trimester

18

15

3

chi  square value=0.264

p=0.876

II Trimester

24

21

3

III Trimester

18

16

2

Source of information

Radio/Televisi on/Internet

30

25

5

chi  square value=865

p=0.834

News paper/Books Journals

6

5

1

Family Members/Rela tives/Friends

12

11

1

Health Personnel/Hea lth Magazines

12

11

1

 

Table reveals the association between socio-demographic variables and the posttest level of knowledge regarding constipation and its management. All the selected demographic variables are not significantly associated with the posttest knowledge scores. The association was determined by using Pearson chi square test

 

CONCLUSION:

This chapter concludes the present study. The focus of this study was to  evaluate the effectiveness of computer assisted teaching programme on knowledge regarding constipation and its management during pregnancy among antenatal mothers in selected Hospitals at Bangalore and to compare the knowledge level of the antenatal mothers.

 

REFERENCE:

1.      Diane.M. Fraser Margarat A Copper, Myles text book for Midwives, 14th edition, Churchil Livingstone publishers, 2004. 217-219.

2.      D.C. Dutta, Textbook of Obestrics including perinatology and contraception 3rd Edition. New central book agency (P) LTD Calcutta. 102-103.

3.      The Indian Society of Gastroenterology Task Force. Epidemiological and clinical profile of irritable bowel syndrome in India 2008; 27(1): p.22-26.

 

 

 

Received on 04.11.2022              Modified on 08.01.2023

Accepted on 16.03.2023        ©A&V Publications All right reserved

Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2023; 13(2):115-118.

DOI: 10.52711/2349-2996.2023.00025