European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY TO ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE REGARDING ADVERSE EFFECT OF TOBACCO ON PREGNANCY AND FETUS AMONG THE ANTENATAL MOTHERS IN YENEPOYA MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL AT MANGALURU

*Amal Tomy, Ashish Ninan, Jeffery Lukose, Maya G., Minnu Baby, Rossa, Vishnu A. and Janet Miranda

ABSTRACT

Background of the study: There are many substances used for recreational activities. Most of the substances have adverse side effects when used for prolonged period of time. Tobacco is one of these substances especially towards antenatal mothers and fetus. Some of this adverse side effects are cancer, abortion, congenital abnormalities, infant death syndrome etc. In order to find out if people are aware of this adverse effects on antenatal mothers and fetus. A research study is done to find out if antenatal mothers know about the adverse effect of tobacco for mother and fetus. Statement of the problem: “A descriptive study to assess the knowledge regarding adverse effect of tobacco on pregnancy and fetus among the antenatal mothers in selected hospital at Mangaluru”. Objective of the study  To assess the knowledge level of Antenatal Mothers on adverse effect of tobacco on pregnancy and fetus.  To find the association of knowledge scores with selected demographic variables. Method: Quantitative research approach and descriptive design was used to conduct the study. Structured knowledge questionnaire was used to collect data from 100 antenatal mothers. The collected data’s were analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: In this study Majority of antenatal mother’s belonged to the age group of 18-22 and 23-27 (45% each). Most (42%) of the participants belonged to Muslim religion followed by Hindu (41%). Equal number of (38%) was not received formal education and received only primary education. Majority (47%) of the antenatal mothers were in Primi gravida. Majority (61%) of the participants were belonged to nuclear family. Less than half (47%) had the income less than 5000 rupees per month and nearly half (53%) had not received any information regarding adverse effect of tobacco on pregnancy and fetus. The present study shows nearly half (58%) of antenatal mothers had good knowledge, 27% had average knowledge and 15% had excellent knowledge. Mean knowledge score was 12.28 with SD of ± 3.28, and the mean percentage is 61.4. There was no association of the knowledge score with selected demographic variables.

Keywords: Antenatal mother, fetus, Tobacco, Knowledge.