Assessment of pregnant women’s knowledge and practices concerning prenatal care who attend primary health care centers in Baghdad City

الملخص

Objective: To assess knowledge of pregnant women concerning prenatal care who attend primary health care
center in Baghdad city.
Methodology: A descriptive analytic study carried on (100) pregnant women who attend primary health care
centers in Baghdad city (50) of them from Al- Sheik Omer primary health care center \Resafa sector .and 50 from
Belat Al-Shuhadaa/ Al Karch sector, during the period from April to November 2011. The data were collected
through interview and use questionnaire format. Validity and Reliability of the questionnaire were determined
through panel of experts and pilot study, data were analysed through the application of descriptive statistical
analysis and inferential statistical analysis.
Results: The results revealed that (28%) of pregnant women their ages ranged between 15-19 years, (48%) were
not read and write, (54%) from low socioeconomic status. (61%) had 1-2 gravida, (48%) had 1-2 para, 26% had 1-2
abortion and 78%attended primary health care center 1-2 visits only. The result indicates that there is no significant
relationship between sociodemographic characteristic and knowledge of pregnant women concerning prenatal
care, while there is significant relationship between number of prenatal care visits and knowledge of the pregnant
women.
Recommendations: The study recommended an emphasis on health education for mothers' awareness of the
importance of regular visits to primary health care center during pregnancy.