Knowledge and attitudes of women regarding the situations affecting their own health in the postpartum process

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to determine the knowledge and attitudes of women about the care and practices which may affect their own health in the postpartum process, and several factors associated with these.
Materials and methods: Between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2014, a total of 354 volunteer women (mean age 29.39±7.31 years; range 17 to 68 years) who gave birth at Bingöl Gynecology and Pediatrics Hospital were included in this study. Data were collected through the questionnaire prepared in line with the literature.
Results: 81.9% of the participants were housewives, and kin marriage existed among 25.4%. In the study, in terms of both knowing/not knowing and wanting/not wanting to learn, we did not find any difference in the analysis conducted (p>0.05); (i) Between perineum care and educational status, the place where she spent most of her life and delivery method; (ii) Between breast care and educational status, the place where she spent most of her life, kin marriage status and delivery method; (iii) Between nutrition and age, educational status, family type, the place where she spent most of her life and kin marriage status.
Conclusion: We observed that some women not having knowledge on postpartum process are to be prioritized in terms of health training. Therefore, both the women and the health personnel providing this service should be motivated towards the permanence of such trainings thus, to ensure the continuity of women’s awareness.