Knowledge Attitudes and Practices of Women in the Reproductive Age from Upper Egypt Towards Reproductive Health, Family Planning and Child Care
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- Category: Vol. 83, March 2015
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Knowledge Attitudes and Practices of Women in the Reproductive Age from Upper Egypt Towards Reproductive Health, Family Planning and Child Care, ALAA EL-DINE H. MAHMOUD
Abstract
Introduction: Marked health inequalities exist in Egypt. Fertility rates are highest in rural Upper Egypt, contraceptive use, Maternal Health Care, Child Nutrition and weaning Practices are poorest in Rural Upper Egypt, due to high unemployment and poverty rates particularly among women. Assiut and Souhag are two of the most disadvantaged gover-norates in Upper Egypt.
Objectives: To assess the Knowledge, Attitude and Prac-tices of women in the reproductive age from 75 villages in Assiut and Souhag (40 villages in Assiut and 35 villages in Souhag) towards Reproductive Health, Family Planning, Child Care and nutrition.
Methods: This was a cross sectional study involving a random sample of women in the reproductive age from 75 villages in Assiut and Souhag governorates, Egypt.
Results: 80.2% of all interviewed women reported that the appropriate age of marriage for girls was 18 years or more. A total of 229 participants (50.9% of the overall sample) reported that the appropriate number of antenatal care visits to be 4 or more. None of the participants to the survey could identify correctly 4 danger signs of pregnancy. Significantly more 37 participants from Souhag governorate (representing 17.6% of Souhag sample) were able to correctly identify 3 danger signs of puerperium in contrast to none from Assiut Governorate. Only 14.9% of the interviewed sample could report that post-partum contraception could be started within 40 days of labor. An overall of 61.1% of the interviewed sample (275 women) identified the proper inter-pregnancy spacing to be 2 years. an overall of 174 study participants (38.7% of the study sample) reported that they were current users of any kind of contraception. Current contraceptive use in Assiut governorate was significantly higher than Souhag governorate (42.9% and 33.8% respectively) (Chi square= 3.917 and p-value=0.04780 1). Ever use of contraception was reported by 273 study participants (60.7% of the sample). The proportion of participants from Assiut governorate report-ing Ever user of contraception (67.1%) was significantly higher than that from Souhag governorate (53.3%). (Chi square=8.8739 and p-value=0.002893).
Conclusion: Health Awareness of women in the reproduc-tive age from Assiut and Souhag governorates in the areas of Reproductive health, Family Planning and Child nutrition and weaning practices is unsatisfactory.