A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of a SelfInstructional Module on Knowledge Regarding Antecedent of Preterm Labor and Its Prevention among Antenatal Mothers in OPD at Selected Hospital in Bangalore

Abstract

Background: Preterm labor is the labor that occurs before the end of 37 weeks of gestation. It occurs in approximately 9% of all pregnancies. A woman is considered to be in preterm labor if she is having uterine contractions that cause cervical effacement and dilatation. Any women having a pattern of labor for more than 1 h with contraction lasting 30 sec and occurring as frequently as every 10 m apart should be considered to be in labor. Preterm labor is serious because it results in the infant’s birth, as premature baby. During pregnancy, the women who deliver prematurely may have more painless contraction, backache, and excessive vaginal discharge than others. Preterm birth accounts for 75% of all perinatal deaths and up to 50% of the neurological handicaps found in infancy. The incidence of the preterm birth varies among different populations, with the lowest incidence in the socio economically more advantaged population and the highest incidence occurring in the medically indigent population. Management of preterm labor is predicted on first identifying the women at risk for this complication. Method: This was an experimental study; total 60 subjects were selected through non-probability convenient sampling technique. Exploratory design was used. Data was collected by structured interview technique. Data was collected under two sections (socio-demographic data, knowledge questionnaire and practice checklist). The reliability of the tool was established by split half method formula. The reliability result of knowledge was r=0.904. We prepared self instruction module regarding antenatal care. Result: In pre-test, 16 (40%) of the antenatal mothers had average knowledge only and remaining 24 (60%) had low knowledge. Post-test scores compared to pre-test scores showed an observable increase in the knowledge of antenatal mothers as 12 (30%) of them had high knowledge and remaining 28 (70%) had average knowledge. The mean of knowledge score in pre-test was increased from 16.2+2.85 to 22.45+2.13 in posttest. Conclusion: The study proved that self instructional module on antecedents of preterm labor and its prevention among primipara mothers was scientific, logical and cost effective strategy.