Mother’s Education and Antenatal Care Practices: A Case Study from Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to analyze the effect of mother„s education on Antenatal practices. It was a descriptive study. Data collection tool and techniques were structured questionnaires and face to face interviews. Study was conducted at Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal. The study populations were women who had just delivered babies at Manipal Teaching Hospital. Due to Covid outbreak in the community, data collection period was limited from 1 st Feb 2021 to 27th Feb 2021, during which 340 respondents were interviewed. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive results were presented in tabular or graphical form as number and percentages while association between dependent and independent variables were expressed in terms of p value and odd ratio using logistic regression.

About one-half (52.7%) of the women had sought 4 or more ANC visits, by age, about 7 in every 10 women (69.7%) in their 20s had 4 or more ANC visits in their last pregnancy. Women„s education has strong effects on the utilization of 4 or more ANC visits. Women with higher level of education were 34 times more likely (95% C.I) to utilize at least 4 ANC than women with no education. The analysis result shows significant effect of education and ANC at secondary (OR 11.2; 95% CI) and primary (OR 6.2; 95% CI). The likelihood of taking ANC 4 services 2 times more and 6 times more respectively for women who listen to radio at least once a week (OR 2.6 ; 95% CI ) and the women who watch TV at least once a week (OR 6.4; 95% CI) . The strongest positive influence on ANC use was due to social media using habits. ANC utilization is 40.5 times more among women who had access to internet and social media. The result is significant at p<0.001. In this study mothers‟ education and ANC visit was statistically significant. Mass media played a central role in educating people about their health need. Further intensive research is needed aimed to examine the impact of mass media exposure to the ANC service utilization.