A Descriptive study of knowledge and attitude toward postpartum care among primigravida mothers delivering at Tertiary Care Hospital in East Delhi

Abstract

Background: Postpartum period is the period of adjustment after child birth when anatomical and physiological changes of consumption are reversed to an almost pre pregnancy level. Care during postnatal period involves the care of both the mother and her new-born after delivery. Postnatal care emphasizes the importance of support for new mothers in the postnatal period in caring of their infants. The care provided during this period contributes to improve maternal and child health and well-being by helping to establish healthy practices, prevent disease, and detect and manage complications. The importance of postnatal care can be understood by the fact that more than two-thirds of newborn deaths occur by the end of the first week after birth, with up to one-half of all deaths occurring in the first 24 h of birth. 

Objective: To assess and compare the knowledge score and attitude score regarding postpartum care among primigravida mothers.

Material and Method: A descriptive study with one group pretest posttest design was conducted from January to march 2023 among postnatal mothers admitted in Guru TeghBahadur Hospital. A total of 56 subjects were taken and selected through non probability convenient sampling method. A semi structured Questionnaire for assessing the knowledge and likert scale for assessing the attitude were used.

Results: The result shows that the mean knowledge score of pretest is 14.28 and for posttest is 21.62, and mean pretest attitude score is 31.30 and for posttest is 35.70. It also shows 98.21% mothers showing good knowledge and 100 % were having good attitude after receiving structured teaching program.

Conclusion: It is concluded that the structured teaching program was effective in enhancing knowledge and attitude toward postpartum care among primigravida mothers.