Perceived Health Status and Health Promoting Behaviors among Pregnant Women in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Worldwide, approximately 99% of maternal death occurred in developing countries among 358000 maternal deaths. Perceived health status and health-promoting behaviors are the factors that can increase awareness and decrease the health risk of the mother and child. Nurses have the opportunity to provide information related to healthy lifestyles through health promotion programs to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the level of perceived health status and health-promoting behaviors among pregnant women in Bangladesh. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional type of study was conducted among 148 pregnant women by convenience sampling technique with three tertiary level hospitals, in Dhaka. The instrument consisted of three parts: Socio-demographic, perceived health status, and health-promoting behaviors questionnaire. 14 items with a 5-point Likert Scale and 44 items with a 4-point Likert were used respectively. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire with face-to-face interviews. Data were analyzed by a computer software program using T-test, ANOVA, and Pearson product-moment Correlation. Result: The result shows that the mean score of perceived health status (M = 55.99, SD = 10.83), and HPBs (M = 144.78, SD = 14.10). Perceived health status is significantly moderately correlated with HPBs (r = .517, p = .000). Following demographic characteristics are those significantly associated with HPBs; education (F = 6.154, p = .003), monthly family income (r = .422, p = .000), distance from hospital to residence (r = -.172, p= .037), and pregnancy trimester (F = 12.427, p = .000). Conclusion: The study concluded that overall perceived health status and HPBs were at good level of HPBs of the pregnant women. It should be taken into account that perceived health status and socio-demographic characteristics are the influencing factors on the health-promoting behaviors of pregnant women in Bangladesh.