Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic Research Articles

Perception of and Adherent to Anaemia Preventive Strategies among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Selected Hospitals in Benin city, Edo State, Nigeria

Perception of and Adherent to Anaemia Preventive Strategies among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Selected Hospitals in Benin city, Edo State, Nigeria

Prevalence of Uropathogens and Associated Risk Factors in Urinary Tract Infection in Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in a Teaching Hospital in Awka, Nigeria

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the very serious common problems encountered in pregnancy, and it is associated with severe maternal and fetal risks which include maternal chorioamnionitis, pyelonephritis, cystitis, preterm birth, low birth weight, and increased perinatal mortality if untreated. The prevalence of UTI varies worldwide. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of uropathogens and associated risk factors in UTI in pregnant women in Awka, Nigeria. This was a cross sectional study that involved 269 pregnant women. Clean-catch mid-stream morning urine specimens were collected and examined macroscopically, microscopically and bacteriologically. Information on Socio-demographic characteristics and some clinical factors were collected using pre-designed questionnaires. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 22 and the p-value was set at P=0.05. A total of 118 isolates were obtained and the prevalence of UTI in the study population was 39.8%. The most predominant bacterium was Enterococcus faecalis 34(29%), followed by Escherichia coli 21(17.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 15(12.7%), Staphylococcus aureus 10(8.4%), Staphyloccocus saprophyticus 7(6.0%), Enterobacter cloacae 6(5.1%), and Staphyloccocus epidermidis 4(3.4%). Citrobacter freundii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis occurred at frequency of 3(2.5%) each while Pseudomonas oryzihabitans and Morganella morganii occurred at 2(1.7%) each. Candida species were also isolated, including Candida albicans 4(3.4%), Candida krusei 3(2.5%) and Candida guilliermondii 1(0.8%). None of the socio-demographic variables were statistically associated with UTI. Teachings on personal hygiene during every antenatal visit can help prevent UTI in pregnant women.

Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Tertiary Care Hospital

Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Tertiary Care Hospital

Knowledge and Attitude about Labor Epidural Analgesia among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic.

Labour pain is one of the most painful experiences that a woman faces in her lifetime. There are various options for labour pain management. Epidural analgesia is the gold standard method for pain management during labour. In developing and under-developed countries there are many challenges to provide this service, a very important one being knowledge about epidural analgesia among the parturients and the physicians. A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out among 384 pregnant women attending Antenatal clinic of a tertiary level teaching hospital using pretested structured questionnaire prepared by a team of anaesthesiologists and obstetricians. Non-probability purposive sampling technique was used. The data was analysed by using SPSS version 20.0. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used for analysis. Of the 384 pregnant women, only 29.4% had knowledge about some form of labour analgesia techniques and only 16% of the participants were aware of labour epidural analgesia. Also, only 6.2% were aware that epidural service is available at our hospital. Regarding acceptance, only 42.4% were willing to use epidural analgesia in their present pregnancy. The present study findings revealed that a significant number of participants had very limited knowledge about labour epidural analgesia and were also unaware of the availability of the service in our hospital. Educational programs need to be provided to all the pregnant women for enhancement of knowledge and awareness about epidural labour analgesia to increase its acceptability among them.

Knowledge, Attitude and P erception Towards Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in University College Hospital, Ibadan

Introduction: The International Diabetes Federation has identified the emergence of gestational diabetes mellitus (DM) (GDM) as an underappreciated threat to maternal and child health. Adequate knowledge, a positive attitude towards prevention, and a positive perception of its danger could motivate pregnant women to take preventive measures. However, there is a dearth of literature on these among women attending antenatal clinics at UCH. This study, therefore aimed to assess pregnant women’s knowledge about GDM, report their attitudes and determine their perception towards GDM. Methods: A cross-sectional study assessed the knowledge, attitude and perception towards GDM. A total of 300 pregnant women registered with and attending the antenatal clinic in University College Hospital (UCH), were selected using a random sampling technique. A self-structured questionnaire using a GDM Knowledge Questionnaire and previous research questions on Perception and Attitude was used to collect data from participants. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences 20.0 and hypotheses were tested using chi-square at 0.05 level of significance. Results: The mean age of the pregnant women was 30.60 ± 5.88 years. A little over one-fifth of the participants were knowledgeable about GDM. Three-quarters of the participants demonstrated a positive attitude while just a little over half had a positive perception of GDM. A significant association exists between participants’ knowledge about GDM and belief about screening for diabetes during pregnancy ( p = .006). There was a significant association between participants’ attitude and their perception of GDM ( p = .000). A direct significant association was also found between participants’ knowledge and their perceived risk of developing GDM ( p = .000). Discussion: While most of the pregnant women had poor knowledge about GDM, more than half of the pregnant women had positive attitudes towards GDM. A little over average possesses a positive perception towards GDM. Healthcare providers should intensify efforts in formulating appropriate methods to increase awareness with emphasis on the risks associated with GDM.

(046) Pattern of Sexual Activities among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic

Abstract Introduction Sexuality is rarely discussed in many cultures even in clinical context. Sexual repression and abstinence are not uncommon among pregnant women due to several factors; some of which may be related to ignorance. The pattern of sexual activity in pregnancy with its associated changes and challenges remain poorly understood due to a complex interplay of bio-psycho-social factor. Objective This study demonstrates the pattern of sexual activities among pregnant women with associated changes resulting from pregnancy as well as perception and experiences of these women about sexual activities and function in pregnancy. Methods Pre-tested self-administered questionnaires were used to obtain data from women in second and third trimesters of uncomplicated pregnancies about their sexual activities before and during pregnancy as well as their perception about sexual activities in pregnancy. Results The study recruited 228 pregnant women aged 19 to 44years (Mean - 31.7years) with an average gestational age of 27.8weeks and most (93.8%) were singleton. Most of the respondents were married (97.4%) with tertiary level of education (87.9%). Majority (60.1%) were multiparous and most (96.5%) have commenced antenatal care. Majority (58.8%) reported only one lifetime sexual partner with mean age at coitarche of 23.6years. Only 1.3% have multiple sexual partners during the index pregnancy. Most (74.8%) had sexual activities at least once weekly prior pregnancy. During pregnancy however, only 48% had sexual activities at least once weekly, 25.3% had sexual activity less than once monthly, 5.8% had no sexual activity at all in pregnancy. Frequency of sexual activity in pregnancy was moderately associated with frequency before pregnancy (Pearson–0.428, p-0.000). Regarding changes in sexual activity and function associated with pregnancy; 53.5% reported a negative effect, 28.6% had improvement and 18% reported no change in frequency of sexual activities. Regarding sexual desire, 46.1% had reduction, 31.6% reported improvement and 22.3% reported no effect on their desire. For lubrication however, 39.5% had improvement, 31.2% reported reduction whereas 29.3% reported no change. Their overall satisfaction with their sexual function was reported as better in pregnancy m 43.7%, no change in 20.2% and reduction in 36.1%. Although 77.5% of respondents agreed that regular sexual activities can improve bonding with their partners, 64.3% of respondents were afraid of risk of injury to the baby, 58.8% were afraid of risk of infection, and 51.2% were afraid of bleeding in pregnancy and these fears were reported as reasons for their decision regarding sexual activities in pregnancy. Conclusions Marked reduction in frequency of sexual activities were reported in pregnancy; women who had infrequent intercourse prior pregnancy were more likely to have infrequent intercourse in pregnancy. Fear of injury to the baby, bleeding and infection were among the topmost reasons sexual activities were avoided in pregnancy. Education of pregnant women may reduce unnecessary abstinence and sexual repression in pregnancy and avoid its psychosocial consequences on these women and their partners. Disclosure No.

Prevalence of Malaria Infection in Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Southern Senegal.

Despite marked progress in Senegal, three regions in the southeast part continue to have a high burden of malaria, but there have been no recent studies assessing the prevalence of malaria associated with pregnancy. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of malaria infection in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Senegal. During the malaria transmission season of 2019, pregnant women attending 11 health care facilities for a scheduled visit and those presenting unwell with signs of malaria were invited to participate in a malaria screening study. A finger prick blood sample was taken for malaria diagnosis by rapid diagnosis test (RDT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 877 pregnant women were enrolled, 787 for a scheduled antenatal consultation and 90 for an unscheduled consultation with signs of malaria. The prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum among the first group was 48% by PCR and 20% by RDT, and that among the second group was 86% by PCR and 83% by RDT. RDT sensitivity in capturing asymptomatic, PCR-positive infections was 9.2% but ranged from 83% to 94% among febrile women. The prevalence of infection by PCR in women who reported having received at least three doses of sulfadoxine pyrimethamine (SP) was 41.9% compared with 58.9% in women who reported they had not received any SP doses (prevalence ratio adjusted for gravidity and gestational age, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.41-0.73). The burden of P. falciparum infections remains high among pregnant women, the majority of which are not captured by RDT. More effective measures to prevent malaria infection in pregnancy are needed.

Helicobacter Pylori and Intestinal Parasites Co-infection in Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in a Hospital, South-South Nigeria

Pregnant women are susceptible to severe health problems caused by Helicobacter pylori and intestinal parasitic infections. These conditions include iron deficiency anaemia, hyperemesis gravidarum, gastritis, duodenal ulcers, and maternal morbidity and mortality. These infections usually spread due to poor personal hygiene and socioeconomic conditions. The study aimed to investigate the occurrence of H. pylori and intestinal parasitic infections amongst pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic in Okolobiri, Bayelsa State. We analysed the samples using the H. pylori antibody rapid tests, stool direct wet mounts, formal ether concentration, and saturated sodium chloride floatation. The data revealed that 34% of the women were infected with H. pylori and 20% with intestinal parasites. The highest occurrence of H. pylori infection and intestinal co-infection was in the 26-30 age group. Entamoeba histolytica was the most common type of protozoa present, while Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichuria were the most common forms of helminth infections. The Chi-square analysis showed a statistically significant difference with respect to age. These results provide essential epidemiological data on the prevalence of H. pylori and intestinal parasitic infections among pregnant women in Okolobri, Bayelsa State. The study highlights the need to screen pregnant women for H. pylori and intestinal parasites to improve antenatal care for both mother and child.

Assessment of Blood Pressure Patterns and Body Mass Index Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Central Hospital Kwale, Delta State

Assessment of Blood Pressure Patterns and Body Mass Index Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Central Hospital Kwale, Delta State

Candida albicans Infection and Associated Risk Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State

Candida albicans affects the quality of life and when present in pregnant women it causes complications especially in individuals that are immunocompromised and or poor attitude to hygiene. A total of 60 high vaginal swap (HVS) samples were taken from pregnant women and analyzed for the presence of C. albicans species. Swap sticks were used in the collection of white patches found around the posterior fornix of the vagina and inoculated in Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and incubated at 37oC for 24hours. Slides were prepared and viewed under reduced light microscope using ×10 and ×40 objective magnification. Germ tube test was carried out to distinguish C. albicans species from other Candida species, using test tubes containing 0.5ml human serum. The result shows that those in their second and third trimester have higher prevalence 12 (40.0%) of C. albicans and the secondi gravid 16 (53.3). Similarly, those in the age group of 15-20 years have prevalence 20 (66.7). Although, not significant (P> 0.05), third trimester, use of tights and age were important predisposing factors as revealed by the adjusted odd ratio of 3.3, 2.2 and 6.9 respectively. High prevalence of Candida albicans was observed and factors such as hygiene habit, age of the women, use of antibiotics, trimester and dressing among women played important role as risk factors. Destruction of epithelia cells of the vagina was significantly correlated with C. albicans infection.

The Susceptibility to Rubella Virus Infection among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Unguja, Zanzibar: The Need to Employ Multiple Strategies to Control Congenital Rubella Syndrome in Tanzania

Aims: This study was conducted to determine the proportion of pregnant women susceptible to Rubella virus infection in Zanzibar, the information that might be useful in future control interventions.
 Study Design: A cross-sectional hospital-based study.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Unguja Zanzibar between May 2023 and July 2023.
 Methodology: Sociodemographic and other relevant information were collected from pregnant women attending antenatal clinics using structured questionnaires. Blood samples were collected from each consented woman. Detection of Rubella IgG antibodies was done by an indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Data analysis was done by using STATA version 15.
 Results: The median age of enrolled participants was 27[Interquartile range (IQR): 23-31] years while the median gestation age was 28 [IQR: 20-32] weeks. Out of 171 participants, 10/171(5.8%) [95% Cl:2-9.6%] were negative to Rubella virus IgG antibodies indicating susceptibility to active Rubella virus infection that can lead to Congenital Rubella Syndrome. On multivariate analysis, history of congenital malformations (OR: 27.4, 95% CI: 1.29-580.5, p=0.033) was significantly associated with susceptibility to Rubella virus infection.
 Conclusion: Despite high level of natural immunity, there is a considerable proportion of pregnant women in Zanzibar susceptible to Rubella virus infection necessitating the need for multiple strategies to reach a goal of Congenital Rubella Syndrome elimination.

Assessment of the Prevalence of Malaria and Its Associated Risk Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Jalingo and Takum Local Government, Taraba State, Nigeria

Malaria infections are co-endemic throughout most of the tropical and sub-Saharan Africa and present a major threat to public health. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of malaria co-infection in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Jalingo and Takum Local government Areas, Taraba State, Nigeria. The study was conducted in Jalingo and Takum Local Governments Areas between September, 2018 to December 2018. A total of five hundred and twenty (520) pregnant women were screened on antenatal day. Prepared thick films using Giemsa staining technique were examined microscopically for the presence of malaria parasites. A questionnaire was also prepared to collect demographic data and some risk factors. The prevalence of Malaria in Jalingo( 75.6%) and Takum (79.5% ). Malaria infection based on age distribution showed that age group 31-35 had the highest malaria infection (83.6%) while age group < 41 had the least malaria infection (56.5%). This result showed no significant difference between age distribution of malaria Infection based on educational status showed those without Formal Education had the highest prevalence (88.8%) and (19.4%) for Malaria. Occupational related prevalence showed that Traders had the highest prevalence of (86%) and (17.2%) for Malaria χ2= 10.346 (P.>0.5). pregnancy status also showed varied infection rates , those in their first trimester had the highest prevalence( 84.2%) for Malaria but there was no significant difference (P>0.5) between pregnancy status. There was also a significant difference in infection between blood group and Malaria, blood group Ohad the highest prevalence of (90.9%). Association between infection and some risk factors showed that malaria infection is significantly related to fleeting of room with insecticide (O. R= 1.285,), Receive blood transfussion. (O. R=1.645), presences of stagnant water (O. R= 1.170), Malaria control in pregnancy is necessary so as to reduce the incidence of adverse pregnancy complications. The use of long lasting insecticide treated nets should be intensified. Keywords: Malaria infection, antenatal, pregnant women, Jalingo and Takum, Nigeria.

Assessment of the Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Co-Infection and Its Risk Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Jaling and Takum Local Government, Taraba State, Nigeria

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infections are co-endemic throughout most of the tropical and sub-Saharan Africa and both present a major threat to public health. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus co-infection in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Jalingo and Takum Local government Areas, Taraba State, Nigeria. The study was conducted in Jalingo and Takum Local Governments Areas between September 2018 to December 2018.A total of five hundred and twenty (520) pregnant women were screened on antenatal day. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), test was carried out using WONDFO(R)HBsAg test strips and use of ante-sera for blood group. A questionnaire was also prepared to collect demographic data and some risk factors. The prevalence of HBV in Jalingo (12.3%) and Takum (15.2%).co- infection HBV in Jalingo (11.9%) and Takum (15.3%). Hepatitis B infection in relation to age group showed that age group 26 - 30 had the highest infection (21.3%) while age group 16-20 had the least infection(8.2%) .This result showed no significant difference between age distribution of Hepatitis B infection based on Educational status showed those without Formal Education had the highest prevalence (88.8% ) and (19.4%) for Hepatitis B. Occupational related prevalence showed that Traders had the highest prevalence of (86%) and (17.2%) for Hepatitis B χ2= 10.346 (P.>0.5).pregnancy status also showed varied infection rates , those in their first trimester had the highest prevalence( 84.2%) for Hepatitis B virus infection but there was no significant difference (P>0.5) between pregnancy status and Hepatitis B. Relationship between Hepatitis B risk factors on the other hand showed a closer association with Blood transfusion (O.R=1.179), sharing of towel (O.R=1.079), Multiple sex partners (O.R=2.989) and use of unsterilized syringe (O.R=3.163). Hepatitis B control in pregnancy is necessary so as to reduce the incidence of adverse pregnancy complications. The Hepatitis B screening should be incorporated into the routine antenatal screening on their first day of booking. Keywords: Hepatitis B infection, antenatal, pregnant women, Jalingo and Takum, Nigeria.

Utilization of Insecticide Treated Nets Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Selected Hospitals in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area- Enugu State- South-East, Nigeria

Background: Malaria infection in pregnancy complicates about 32 million pregnancies each year in endemic areas in sub-Saharan Africa and can be life-threatening for both the mother and child (World Health Organization (WHO), 2017). The severe burden of disease has led to a global fight to control malaria. The World Malaria Report states that by the end of 2010, adequate insecticide-treated mosquito nets would have been delivered to sub-Saharan Africa to protect about 580 million people. This would protect 76% of the population at risk. More than 75 million people have received protection from indoor residual spray (WHO, 2017). Malaria increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes for mothers, fetuses, and newborns. Aim: The study aimed to assess the utilization of insecticide treated nets among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in some selected hospitals in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State. Method: This study adopted a cross sectional study design. The sample consists of Two hundred (200) pregnant women who attended antenatal clinics in the selected health centres of Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State and were selected through a convenient sampling technique. The instruments for data collection were a self-structured questionnaire and an interview guide for those who could not read and write. Findings: Results showed high ownership of ITN with a poor level of utilization; no significant relationship between the pregnant women’s age, parity, and utilization of insecticide-treated net. Conclusions: The study concluded that high ownership of ITN does not translate to a good utilization level. It recommended a combination of subsidy and mass education campaigns to boost utilization.

Prevalence and Antibacterial Susceptibility of Isolates of Coliuria among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common among pregnant women and can be associated with negative outcome for both the mother and the foetus. In view of the increasing bacterial resistance, regular monitoring of resistance patterns is necessary to improve guideline for empirical antibacterial therapy. The aims of this study were to estimate prevalence of coliuria and determine the antibiogram of the isolates among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri. This study involved pregnant women at any stage of gestation attending Antenatal Clinics at State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri without signs of life-threatening conditions and focused on E. coli as a cause of UTI using urine samples. Plate streaking method was used in isolation of E. coli while disc diffusion method was used as technique for antibacterial susceptibility testing. The urine samples analysed showed a prevalence of coliuria of 39.1 % (59/151) among the subjects. The results of antibacterial sensitivity indicated that gentamicin (86.4%, 51/59) demonstrated significantly (p < 0.05) highest activity against the isolates while streptomycin (10.2%, 6/59) and cephalexin (10.2%, 6/59) had the least activity. The antibacterial resistance of individual isolates revealed that most of the isolates were multi-drug resistant strains and majority (98.3%, 58/59) of the isolates was resistant to at least three (3) antibacterial drugs. Isolate 11 (Ec11) was resistant to all the ten (10) antibacterial drugs tested while isolate 35 (Ec35) had the least resistance of 10% as it was only sensitive to gentamicin. These findings suggest that there is a high prevalence of coliuria among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at SSH, Maiduguri. Only gentamicin is suitable antibacterial agent in the treatment of the condition and this could contribute to effective treatment and effective discharge of antenatal care practice in Maiduguri.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasmosis Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Uyo Nigeria

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasmosis Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Uyo Nigeria

Assessment of Obstetric Characteristics Associate with Anemia Disease among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics at Garowe General Hospital, Somalia

Introduction: Existence of anaemia pregnancy women is when it comes to this hematologic abnormality. Hemoglobin deficiency during pregnancy has serious effect on maternal and fetus development, which could prompt high maternal mortality rates.
 Purpose of the Study: The purpose of the study was to assess obstetric characteristics associate with anemia disease among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Garowe general hospital. 
 Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study design was conducted. Systematic random sampling method was used to select 266 pregnant women. Mothers who attended Antenatal Clinic during the study period and who met the inclusion criteria were interviewed and a capillary blood sample was taken. Hemoglobin level was determined by using HemoCue photometer. A structured questionnaire as well as focus group discussions were held in collecting data. Qualitative data was analyzed using a content technique and quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
 Results: The inferential statistics entailed a bivariate chi-square analysis and odds ratio (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) computed to find association between independent and dependent variables. The study found that 46% of the pregnant women in the study were anemic. Obstetric characteristics such as the interval or space between births and the abortion history of the mother was significantly associated with anemia disease.
 Recommendation: The study recommends that stakeholders including governments, Non-Governmental Oganization and the private sector in Somalia should seek to increase access to iron and folic acid supplements, should increase education on nutrition. In addition, the study recommends that sanitation and access to clean water should also be enhanced. Finally, the study recommends that the underlying socio-economic factors such as poverty, lack of education, unemployment and poor housing that lead to anemia should be addressed.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Ante-Partum Hemorrhage among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital Jinja City.

This study was carried out at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital to determine the Prevalence and associated risk factors of antepartum haemorrhage among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics. The researcher used simple random sampling to select her Mothers to participate in the study. The mothers that participated in this study were 15 years and above and had genuine and mature answers according to the Researcher's view of the study. The questionnaires were constructed to obtain information on the prevalence and associated risk factors of antepartum haemorrhage among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics. The researcher analyzed the quantitative data that was collected using questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS. It was expressed in terms of frequencies and percentages, which helped the researcher to show the distribution of respondents on each of the independent and dependent variables. The majority of the mothers were of the age group (26-30) years accounting for 33.3%, and the least were both (30-35) years and above 35 years accounting for 18.8%. 91.7% of the respondents were married, 4.2% were divorced and 2.1% were widows. The majority were peasants accounting for 41.7%, followed by employed ones at 31.2%, unemployed were 25.0% and lastly unspecified at 2.1%. These respondents were majorly of college/tertiary level of education accounting for 37.5%, followed by uneducated at 25.0%, secondary level at 22.9%, primary level were 10.9% and lastly post-graduate level at 2.1%. The majority of the respondents were not having PV bleeding which is 79.1% and those with PV bleeding were only 18.8% of the respondents. For those with PV bleeding it mainly lasted for 1 day with 6.2% of the respondents. It has found that APH was common in mothers in the age group of (20-30) years and factors which increased APH among women that participated in the study included the following factors smoking or chewing tobacco, number of deliverance, history of operations on the uterus, time interval to get another pregnancy, history of trauma. This made these major risk factors of APH. There the research recommended the government, sub-county, district and health workers to educate mothers on the risk factors of APH especially those above. Keywords: Antepartum haemorrhage, Pregnant women, Antenatal clinic, PV bleeding, Mothers.

Factors Contributing Towards COVID-19 Vaccination among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in a Tertiary Care Center, Bhubaneswar, India

Background: Many vaccines were approved by the World Health Organization for emergency use in 2020, but pregnant women were excluded from these trials. When the COVID-19 vaccines were approved for use by pregnant women, they were left in a dilemma about whether to accept the vaccine during pregnancy or not. Objective: To study the factors contributing to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women attending antenatal tertiary care centers in India. Method: A questionnaire was provided to pregnant women attending the antenatal tertiary care hospitals in Bhubaneswar, India. The questions included socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric parameters, knowledge of COVID-19 vaccines, and the reasons for hesitancy towards them. Results: Vaccine hesitancy was 29.34% among pregnant women. The sources of information regarding the vaccine were the internet, and the causes of vaccine hesitancy were inadequate information and mistrust of the vaccine. Younger women were more inclined to accept the vaccine. Primigravida, the second trimester of pregnancy, belonging to rural areas, and being homemakers were factors associated with hesitancy. Conclusions: Health care professionals need to actively participate in motivating pregnant women to accept the COVID-19 vaccines that should be integrated with the routine vaccination strategy in antenatal clinics.

Original Research Article Socio-Economic and Cultural Factors Associated with the Nutritional Status of Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics at the Kalaban-Coro Reference Health Centre in 2022

The aim of this study was to assess the socio-economic and cultural factors associated with underweight in pregnant women in the Kalaban-coro Health Centre. Method and material: This was a cross-sectional analytical study carried out at the Kalaban-coro Reference Health Centre between 03 October and 02 November 2022, involving 280 pregnant women aged between 15 and 49 years. Data were collected by means of a paper questionnaire, then entered on an ODK form and analysed using SPSS 20. We performed a bivariate and multivariate analysis using logistic regression with underweight as the dependent variable and several socio-demographic and economic characteristics of the pregnant women. Statistical tests were used with a significance level of 5%. Results: The study enrolled 280 pregnant women with an average age of 26.08 years, and the most common age group was 20 to 25 years (33.9%). The women surveyed had had an average of 3.11 pregnancies, with 2.02 live births and 0.31 deaths of children aged 0-5 years, and the number of live children was 1.76, almost 2 children. Most of the women surveyed (47.86%) were in their 2nd trimester, and 28.2% were first-time mothers. The Bambara ethnic group predominated, with 32.1%. Among our respondents, 39.6% had not attended school. Almost all of these women (92.50%) reported an average standard of living and a monthly income of between ≥50,000 and < 150,000. Only 7.9% of pregnant women were physically active. In terms of dietary diversity, 73.2% had eaten fewer than five food groups the day before the survey, so dietary diversity was low. The average weight of the respondents was 67.33 kg, with an average height of 164.48 cm, an average DB of 258.73 mm and an average BMI of 24.88. Estimated using the BMI <18.5 threshold, the prevalence of underweight was 4.3%. There was also a Spearman correlation between nutritional status and level of education (P = 0.021). Regression showed a positive correlation between overall underweight .......