Knowledge and Attitude regarding Congenital Malformations among Married Women

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to determine the following among the married women of the village Sarabha, Punjab: assess the knowledge and attitude regarding congenital malformations ; the co-relation between knowledge and attitude regarding congenital malformations among married women; the relationship of knowledge regarding congenital malformations with selected demographic variables such as age of woman, educational status, occupation, monthly family income, source of information and family history of congenital malformations; relationship of attitude regarding congenital malformations with selected demographic variables such as age of woman, educational status, occupation, monthly family income, source of information, number of children and family history of congenital malformations and to prepare and distribute the pamphlets regarding congenital malformations. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in selected using closed ended questions on 200 married women of village Sarabha, Punjab. The questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and Likert’s scale was used to assess attitude regarding congenital malformations. The resulting answers were graded and the percentage of correct and incorrect answers for each question from all participants was obtained. Results: The findings revealed that 63% of married women had average knowledge, 32.5% had poor knowledge regarding congenital malformations and the least i.e. 4.5% of the married women had good level of knowledge regarding congenital malformations. More than half i.e. 63% of married women had positive attitude and 37% had negative attitude regarding congenital malformations. Conclusion: It can be concluded from the present study that married women had limited knowledge regarding congenital malformations and also the attitude regarding congenital malformations is not extremely positive. So there was need for improving their knowledge and attitude regarding congenital malformations so that they can contribute to the development of healthy society.