Journal of Nurse Midwifery and Maternal Health

 Menstruation, generally considered as unclean in the Indian society and have reinforced a negative attitude towards this phenomenon. Good hygienic practices such as the use of sanitary pads and adequate washing of the genital area are essential during menstruation. Awareness regarding the need for information about healthy menstrual practices is very important. It is essential to design a mechanism to address and gain the access of hygienic menstrual practices for adolescent girls. The present study has highlighted the need of adolescent girls to have accurate and adequate information about menstruation. Personal hygiene practices were also found to be unsatisfactory. It is important to educate adolescents about the issues related to menstruation, so that they could safeguard themselves against various infections and diseases.

Keywords: Menstruation; Awareness; Healthy Practices.

 Birth preparation is the preparation of mothers-to-be for a normal satisfying delivery through relieving her doubts, fears and anxiety about the birth process and that is by providing information on the birthing process, the breathing techniques which will help her relieve anxiety and thereby focus on the labour, positions to be adopted for labour for comfort and reducing pain,exercises for improving her muscle tone and strength for labour , methods of pain management in labour, place of birth for safe delivery and the supplies to take along for the birth to receive the baby and mother. The aim of the study was to assess and compare the level of knowledge and attitude regarding birth preparation among primigravida mothers, to determine the effectiveness of IEC package on the level of knowledge and attitude regarding birth preparation,to correlate the knowledge with attitude and to associate the post test level of knowledge and attitude regarding birth preparation with their demographic variables among primi gravida mothers in study and control group The conceptual frame work for the study was based on Weidenbach Helping Art Model of Clinical Nursing Practice. It provided a comprehensive frame work for achieving the objectives of the study. Quantitative approach and the quasi-experimental pre and post test control group design was selected to study the effectiveness of IEC package on birth preparation among primi gravida mothers. The investigator has collected the data within four weeks of time with effect from 01/08/2013 to 31/08/2013. Non probability convenient sampling method was used to select samples for the study. 60 primi gravida mothers were selected for the study [30 primi gravida mothers were allotted in study group and 30 primi gravida mothers were allotted in the control group]. Using the structured questionnaire, section-A demographic data of the primi gravida mothers were collected and using sectionB the knowledge regarding birth preparation among primi gravida mothers and section C- attitude on birth preparation among primi gravida mothers were assessed respectively. Followed by the teaching program [IEC package] was provided in the OPD with the help of powerpoint, flash cards and pamplet for 30 minutes and after a period of one week the post test was conducted. Likewise the structured questionnaire were provided to the mothers in the control group, by selecting 6 primi gravida each day for about 5 days and no teaching program was conducted, then the post test was conducted after one week. The IEC package was given to the primi gravida mothers in control group after the study was completed as an ethical consideration. The collection of data was performed within the stipulated time of 4 weeks. The Major findings of the study,the overall mean knowledge score in the pre test was 23.443 standard deviation 15.791 and mean knowledge score 61.777 standard deviation 28.37 in the post test project’s t value 6.488 which was statistically significant at p<0.001 .The mean attitude score in the pre test is 55.933 standard deviation 7.51 and mean attitude score 18.579 standard deviation 18.57 in post test of the study group project’s t value 3.746 which is statistically significant at p<0.001. There was significant association between the gain in knowledge and residence in study group and age with attitude score in study group. The results of the study concluded that IEC package has improved the knowledge and attitude. Therefore the investigator felt that more importance should be given to IEC package.

Keywords: Information Education Communication [IEC]; Birth Preparation; Primigravida.

 Objectives: To assess the knowledge and anxiety level about labour among primigravida by conducting pretest, To evaluate the effectiveness of planned teaching program on knowledge and reducing anxiety about labour among primigravida and to find out the association between post test knowledge and anxiety about labour among primigravida mothers with their selected demographic variables. Methodology: Pre experimental one group pre test and post test design was adopted for fifty primigravida mothers who were selected by purposive sampling technique at MCH Centre, Tirupati, to evaluate the effectiveness of planned teaching program on labour and methods to reduce anxiety by structured questionnaire and beck anxiety scale. Structured interview schedule and tool was used for data collection. Results: In pre test out of 50 primigravida mothers 49(98%) had inadequate knowledge and 1(2%) had moderate knowledge about labour where as 4(8%) had moderate anxiety and 46(92%) had extreme anxiety and in post test 42(84%) had moderate knowledge and 8(16%) had adequate knowledge about labour where as 41(82%) where as had low anxiety and 9(18%) had moderate anxiety after planned teaching program. Conclusion: The present study revealed that primigravida mothers have inadequate knowledge and extreme anxiety about labour and after planned teaching program knowledge improved and anxiety reduced among primigravida mothers.

Keywords: Primigravida Mothers; Planned Teaching Program; Anxiety.

 Background: Children of today are citizens of tomorrow, which is why it is extremely important to ensure proper health care facilities as well as adequate nutritional intake for the children [1]. Nutrition of the preschool children is of paramount importance because the foundation for life time, health strength and intellectual vitality is laid during that period [2]. Nutritional assessment in the country serves as appropriate data gathering processes to enable accurate planning and implementation of interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with under nutrition3 . Objectives: To assess the nutritional status of the urban and rural preschool children. To compare the nutritional status of urban and rural preschool children. To determine the association between social demographic variables and nutritional status of urban preschool children. To determine the association between social demographic variables and nutritional status of rural preschool children. Methods: A comparative study involving 50 urban pre-school children and 50 rural preschool children of selected urban and rural anganwadicentreswere taken for the study. A comparative research design was adopted for this study. Data were collected by using check list and anthropometric measurements.. It included data regarding socio-demographic characteristics and nutritional assessment check list and anthropometric measurements such as height, weight and mid arm circumference. Results: Nutritional grading of anganwadi children in urban areas out of fifty children height for age 74% (37) were normal, 12% (6) were moderate malnutrition, 14% (7) were severe malnutrition. With regards to weight for age 62% (31) were normal, 30% (15) were moderate malnutrition, 8% (4) were severe malnutrition. Related to Mid arm circumference 62% (31) were normal, 30% (15) were moderate malnutrition, 8% (4) were severe malnutrition. Based on height for weight 64% (32) were normal, 30% (15) were moderate malnutrition, 12% (6) were severe malnutrition. Among fifty rural area children, based on height for age 66% (33) were normal, 20% (10) were moderate malnutrition, 14% (7) were severe malnutrition. With relates to height for age 46% (23) were normal, 40% (20) were moderate malnutrition, 14% (7) were severe malnutrition. Regards to mid arm circumference 46% (23) were normal, 40 % (20) were moderate malnutrition, 14% (7) were severe malnutrition. Based on height for weight, 48 % (24) were normal, 42 % (21) were moderate malnutrition, 10% (5) were severe malnutrition. Conclusion: The present study showed a significant association between nutritional status of preschool children and demographic variables. There is a scope for much improvement in the form of enhanced supplementary nutrition.

Keywords: Nutritional Status; Pre-School Children; Anganwadi Centres.

Despite the fact that pregnancy and delivery are normal physiological phenomena, it involves varieties of changes in physical, physiological as well as emotional aspects of the mothers. Pain after birth is not quite the same as pain after surgery or the kind of pain we feel when we suffer from an injury. There are several causes of pain after birth and one among them is after birth contraction which is normally stronger and more uncomfortable for mothers for the first few days postpartum. To determine the effect of prone position on afterpains among postnatal mothers, an quantitative approach a randomised clinical trial on 60 postnatal mothers (30 in study and 30 in control group) who met the inclusion criteria selected by simple random sampling was conducted at C.S.I Kalyani Multispecitality Hospital, Chennai. Subjects were assessed for their pre test level of after pains using by visual analogue scale. Prone postion was given to the postnatal mothers in 3 successive sessions for 20 minutes each for the study group. Followed by the Intervention, the post test level of after pains in both the study and control group was assessed by the visual analogue scale. Results showed that a very high statistical significant difference in the post test level of after pain between the study group and control group at (t=6.793, p< 0.001***). Study concludes that prone position was found to be effective in reduction of after pains.

Keywords: Assess Effectiveness; Prone Position; Afterpains; Postnatal Mothers