A Community Based Study of Prepregnancy Awareness of Safe Maternity Amongst Rural Tribal Women

Background Every pregnant woman faces risk of complications during pregnancy, birth, not only due to pregnancy, birth related problems but preexisting disorders which get exaggerated during pregnancy. Prepregnancy awareness of various prepregnancy, peripregnancy factors for safe maternity is essential. Objective: Community based study was to know awareness about prepregnancy issues for safe maternity. Material methods Study was conducted in tribal communities of remote forestry hilly region. Randomly from each village 20 married women of 15-40 yr in whom pregnancy was possible, 2400 became study subjects in 100 villages around village with health facility. Results Of 2400 study subjects, 1396 (58.2%) had scatchy awareness, 30.3% right age for pregnancy, 34.2% possibility of diseases running in family, 35.5% essentiality of knowing last menstruation date (LMD), 935 (35.10%) necessity of good health, 45.6% stress free life, 24.4% avoidance of heavy work and 30% need of care for good health during pregnancy. Only 1247 (52%) were aware of prepregnancy anaemia, (27% said it was due to lack of food, 73% lack of supplements), 51.7% knew about need of extra micronutrients, (41.7% by blood improving tablets, 58.3% extra energy providing diet), 1039 (43.3%) were aware of need of prepregnancy prevention / treatment, of anaemia for preventing complications, (34.6% giddiness, 29.4% legs swelling, nausea, 36.0% dangers of bleeding), 1164 (48.5%) were aware of genital hygiene, (38.0% said prevented genital infection, 62.0% urinary infection, retention).