KAP Studies Among Indian Antenatal Women: Can We Reduce the Incidence of Anemia?

AIM To study the knowledge, attitude, and practices of antenatal women regarding nutrition and drug compliance in a maternal and child health center in Navi Mumbai. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study was carried out on 250 pregnant females visiting a maternal and child health center over a period of 4 months from November 2012 to February 2013. Women attending the antenatal OPD were asked to fill a questionnaire regarding anemia so as to test their knowledge, attitudes, and practices pertaining to anemia and role of their diet. OBSERVATION The observations were analyzed. This study reflects the ignorance and lack of education among the majority of child-bearing women of low socioeconomic class. CONCLUSION Educating antenatal women about the importance of diet and implementing this into practice will help in the prevention of anemia. It is also seen that drug compliance for iron and folic acid (free supply) has significantly improved, not only because of the cost factor but also due to the reinforcement of knowledge by the staff so as to achieve the minimum WHO target hemoglobin of 10.5 g% in all mothers.