Effectiveness of Self-instructional Module on Knowledge and Remedial Practices Regarding Selected Minor Ailments Among Primigravida

Abstract

Context: Most pregnant women complain of some degree of minor ailments that are not serious in themselves, but their presence decreases the mother's feeling of comfort and wellbeing, particularly among the primigravida.
Aim: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the self-instructional module on knowledge and remedial practices regarding selected minor ailments among primigravida.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design (one group pretest/posttest) was utilized to achieve the aim of this study—a purposive sample of 120 primigravida women. The study was carried out at the obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinic in Benha university hospital. Data were collected through four main tools: A self-administered questionnaire to assess women's characteristics and obstetrical history, a maternal knowledge assessment questionnaire; maternal health practices assessment questionnaire, and a women's satisfaction questionnaire.

Results: showed that the mean age of the studied sample was 23.02±7.57 years. An improvement with highly statistically significant differences was observed in women's knowledge and remedial practices regarding minor ailments at the post-intervention phase compared to the pre-intervention phase at (p<0.001). The majority of pregnant women were satisfied after the implementation of the self-instructional module. There was a non-significant positive correlation between total knowledge and total healthy practices regarding minor ailments at the pre-intervention phase (P>0.05) while there was a highly positive statistical correlation between total knowledge and total healthy practices regarding minor ailments at the post-intervention phase (P≤ 0.001).

Conclusion: The research hypotheses were supported, and the self-instructional module had a positive effect on the improvement of pregnant women's knowledge and, in turn, remedial practices after its implementation. Also, there was a statistically significant reduction in the frequency of minor ailments at the post-intervention phase compared to the pre-intervention phase in favor of post-intervention. The antenatal self-instructional module regarding minor ailments should be restructured and reviewed to meet up the health needs of pregnant women, particularly primigravida.