Knowledge and Practice of PersonalHygiene and Factors affecting it among PregnantWomen attendingAntenatalClinic in aTeachingHospital inLagos State,Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy can be seen as a period of considerable changes involving many processes in a woman’s body systems. During this state, without proper understanding and practice of hygiene during pregnancy, the pregnant woman may face some risks which may be detrimental to her health and to the health of her unborn child.

Aim: This study assessed the knowledge and practice of personal hygiene and factors influencing it among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi- Araba, Lagos, Nigeria.

Methods and Materials: The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design. Selfstructured questionnaires were used to elicit information from the respondents. One hundred and eighty-two (182) respondents formed the sample size. Variables were tested using Chi-square at p<0.05.

Results: Most of the respondents had good overall knowledge (98.3%) and good overall practice (87.5%) of personal hygiene. Lack of regular sources of clean water (82.4%), a distance of the house to the sources of water supply (72.1%) and inability to carry out home cleaning due to the weight of the pregnancy (54.6%) were the factors identified as influencing the practice of personal hygiene. There was a statistically significant relationship between the knowledge and practice of personal hygiene among the respondents (p = 0.004, X²= 8.187).

Conclusion: The knowledge and practice of personal hygiene were good, however; the healthcare providers should give adequate health education on personal hygiene during ANC. Also, supports should be provided to resolve identified factors affecting personal hygiene practice during pregnancy.

Keywords: Antenatal clinic, Knowledge, Practice, Personal hygiene, pregnant women.