Effectiveness of Multimedia Educational Package on knowledge and attitude regarding preconception care among women at selected industries, Kanyakumari District

INTRODUCTION: Reproductive health is recognised as one of the significant components of family welfare. Health of both mother and child is of public health concern. Healthy mothers are important for families, communities and countries. A combination of ill health and social factors lowers the quality of life of women. Ensuring safe and healthy pregnancy is the challenge awaiting our society in the new millennium. A woman in reproductive age plays an important role in determining the health of future population, because their health has an intergenerational effect. Despite of modernization of antenatal care in the worldwide, the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes is 25-30 percent. In India more than 60 percent of the pregnancies are unplanned and hence many women may be engaged in behaviours that have deleterious effects on the developing fetus. Organogenesis which occurs between 17-56 days post conception is a time when most of the fetal organs develop and many of the women may be unaware of their pregnancy. As they are unaware they may be involved in the faulty habits and lose the opportunity to modify the behaviours that would negatively impact her pregnancy. Pregnancy outcomes can be improved by 70 percent if the pregnancies are planned so it is important to take preventive action as early as possible, preferably in preconception period. Preconception care is described as “any intervention provided to women and couples of child bearing age, regardless of pregnancy status or desire, before pregnancy, to improve health outcomes for women, newborns and children”. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of Multimedia Educational Package on knowledge and attitude regarding preconception care among women. METHODOLOGY: Research Design: Quasi experimental non equivalent control group design. Variables: Independent variable – Multimedia Educational Package Dependent Variables – knowledge and attitude regarding preconception care. Setting: Kannan Export Industries, Kanyakumari District. Samples: Women who satisfy the inclusion criteria were the samples for the study by using purposive sampling technique. Intervention: Multimedia Educational Package regarding preconception care which includes concepts of preconception care, screen for genetic disorders and medical illness, life style modification, immunization, screen for infectious diseases. Measurements and tool: The pre and post test level of knowledge was assessed using structured knowledge questionnaire and the attitude was assessed using modified 4 point likert scale. RESULTS: The findings of the study revealed that pre and post test level of knowledge and attitude in experimental group was t = 19.689, t = 9.895 and in control group it was t = 1.243, t = 1.000, which was significant at p < 0.001 level in experimental group. The findings revealed that there was a high statistically significant difference in the level of knowledge and attitude regarding preconception care among women in experimental group. While correlating the post test level of knowledge with attitude in experimental group, it showed (r=0.36) a fair positive correlation. The findings of the study revealed that there was a significant relationship of knowledge with attitude in the experimental group. The analysis also revealed that there was a significant association of previous source of information with the mean differed knowledge score at p < 0.01 level and religion with mean differed attitude score at p < 0.01 level. CONCLUSION: There was a significant improvement of knowledge and favourable attitude after administration of Multimedia Educational Package. Thus Multimedia Educational Package was an effective education tool in improving knowledge and creating favourable attitude regarding preconception care among women. IMPLICATIONS: The midwives have a vital role to work with women to build their knowledge, understanding and informed decision-making in relation to preconception care. The curriculum should add various practical programmes to make the student more aware about the importance of preconception care. The nurse administrator should collaborate with governing bodies to create policies, mobilize resources and create coalition with nongovernmental organizations in order to create awareness on preconception care among women. The nurse administrator should conduct in-service program and continuing education programme on utilization of health care services and its impact on women