An Exploratory Study to Assess the Role of Mother-in-laws in Antenatal Care at Mendhasala, Khurda, Odisha

Every women hopes for a normal pregnancy and birth event so that she can cradle and nurture a healthy baby. For that she has to get proper antenatal care along with pamper, care and guidance from her husband, in-laws and parents.

The descriptive approach was undertaken for present study. The data were collected from 30 mother-in-laws selected by non-probability purposive sampling techqniue in Mendhasala, Khurda through interview schedule and check list. Correlation were analyzed by Pearson's coefficient and percentage and frequencies is used for item wise analysis.

The item wise analysis of knowledge of mother-in-law on antenatal care and the highest scored is 100% for intuitional delivery, the lowest scored 43.3% stands for three antenatal follow up. Similarly for the antenatal check-up, need of vitamin supplement, effect of smoking & alcohol on fetus, screening for Hb% level, for H.I.V.& Hepatitis B, checking olood sugar level, BP examination, need of I.F.A. tablets, extra calorie &effect of emotional disturbances scores are 56.7%, 80%, 76.7%, 43.3%, 53.3%, 46.7%, 66.7%, 56.7%, 80% & 76.7% respectively. Maximum score is 100% of aitude of mother-in-law towards antenatal care is for maintain of personal hygiene, care full during bath, wearing loose garments, avoid high heels, massage therapy and application of local heat and the lowest scored 64.4% for emotional support. Similarly the score Emotional support reduce thestress level of mother isHighly significance was found between the knowledge of mother-in-law when compared to selected demographic variables (p<0.05). The study also found that there is a no co-relation between knowledge and aitude of mother-in-law on antenatal care as the r value is (−0.16).

So the mother-in-laws is playing a vital role during pregnancy of her daughter-in-law as she is having knowledge and experience on antenatal care.