A Study to Assess the Knowledge of Auxiliary Nurses and Midwives (ANMs) on Relevant Information Related to Antenatal Care to be Provided to Beneficiaries to Bring Positive Health Seeking Behavior

Abstract

Introduction: Availing the health services under Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) by beneficiaries like
pregnant women, infant, children and adolescents etc. is sign of positive health seeking behavior. This is possible
if the beneficiaries are aware of significance of health services, providing this awareness is the key role of all
the health workers. But in practice, opportunity for one to one health education are given low priority by busy
health worker .Health education and giving information is critical for ensuring people participation in RCH care.
Objective: To assess the Knowledge of Auxiliary Nurses and Midwives(ANMs) on relevant information related
to antenatal care to be provided to beneficiaries to bring positive health seeking behavior.
Methodology: Descriptive Survey research design to assess the Knowledge of Auxiliary Nurses and
Midwives(ANMs) on relevant information related to antenatal care to be provided to beneficiaries to bring positive
health seeking behavior among ANMs was used for present study. Structured questionnaire as an assessment
tools consisting items on knowledge related to relevant information on Importance Of Early Registration, Regular
ANC Visits, Importance Of TT Immunization, Diet & Rest During Pregnancy, Identification And Treatment Of
Anemia, Identification And Recognition Of Warning Sign &Hi-Risk Pregnancy, Importance Of Institutional
Delivery and Birth Preparedness during RCH care, was developed and got validated by 21 subject experts.
Assessment of 94 ANMs selected from 16 health units of Delhi was done using validated tool,
Result And Conclusion : Findings shows that mean and mean percentage score in knowledge on relevant
information related to antenatal care was below 50% of total score which indicate that ANMs had inadequate
knowledge and there is a need to facilitate ANMs to refresh their knowledge time to time,
Discussion: Inconsistent to present study Kaushik LK(2012) results revealed that out of 218 HW-Fs, only
71.56% were able to enumerate at least 5 criteria of at-risk mothers. Only 40.37% & 60% HW-Fs performed
HB estimation & urine investigation of mothers respectively. Only 27.98% knew at least 5 of the indications for
referral of the mother in labour to higher centre.