Knowledge and attitude of antenatal mothers on the preconception and prenatal diagnostic techniques act attending Government Maternity Hospital in Andhra Pradesh: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Girl children are vulnerable to gender biases throughout the economic and social strata. From the moment of conception, a girl’s existence is an ongoing struggle for survival, development, and growth. Gender equality has gained recognition in the past 10 years as essential to a country’s social and economic progress and overall health. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to know the awareness and attitude of antenatal mothers regarding the preconception and prenatal diagnostic techniques (PCPNDT) act, gender preference, and their awareness regarding related social issues. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted after obtaining ethics committee approval and consent from 200 antenatal mothers attending a maternity hospital from September to December 2022. Data were collected using a predesigned, pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire. The analysis was done with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 26.0. Results: Out of 200 study subjects, 80% were in the age group of 19–25 years, 60.5% were aware of the PCPNDT act, and 43.8% of mothers had knowledge about the PCPNDT act from hospital sources. Of the 56% of mothers who preferred a male child, 35.7% said it was first being a girl child. In this study, awareness of the PCPNDT act was significantly associated with age, area of living, religion, education, occupation, and socio-economic status, but not with type of family. Conclusion: Despite better knowledge regarding the PCPNDT act, the attitude toward sex determination, female foeticide, and son preference has to be changed. For this reason, strict implementation of the PCPNCDT act is essential.