ERIC Number: EJ1482229
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Aug
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0965-4283
EISSN: EISSN-1758-714X
Available Date: 2025-07-31
Labour Preparation, Birth Readiness and Pregnancy Information Adequacy among Primigravidae Women in Ghana
Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah1; Comfort Badu Mantey2; Esther Godliness Afriyie1; Richard Ofori1; Dorcas Sekyi1; Abena Afrakomah Boateng1; Josephine Boakyewaa Nyarko3; Elvis Mwinsome Sobiesuo1; Andrew Nketsia Arthur1
Health Education, v125 n5 p637-650 2025
Purpose: The provision of pregnancy-related information to first-time pregnant women is very critical in addressing maternal mortality and neonatal deaths. This study examines the labour preparation, birth readiness and pregnancy information adequacy of first-time mothers in the Ashanti region, Ghana. Design/methodology/approach: This study employs a descriptive cross-sectional design, purposively sampling 100 primigravidae who had delivered (primiparae). A structured interviewer administered the questionnaire and an interview guide was used. Five first-time primiparae were interviewed after the quantitative data were completed. A descriptive data analysis approach was adopted using the Relative Importance Index (RII) to examine the most prioritized and most satisfied domain of information among first timers. Thematic analysis guided the qualitative data analysis. Findings: Nearly a third (65%) of mothers had attended antenatal clinic for 5-6 times with over 82% attending at least five times before delivery. Information on healthy diet (RII = 0.770) was the pregnancy-related information that received the topmost attention as offered by nurses and midwives to first-time pregnant women. Whilst information on mothers' experience of common discomfort during pregnancy was the least (RII = 0.668). Among 74% of mothers, pregnancy information was sourced from families and relatives. The most rated labour and birth information provided to mothers was information on how to know when labour was starting (RII = 0.765). Seven out of every ten mothers (73%) were satisfied with the pregnancy and labour information given to them. The qualitative narrative unearthed some mothers' discomfort and disagreement with the pregnancy information and education that mothers were not to give water to their infants. Adopting technology aided tools in communicating pregnancy and labour needs of first-time mothers was considered necessary in an era of health technology to provide personalized care. Originality/value: Pregnancy-related identified areas of priority should become the focus of antenatal care (ANC) information given to women, especially first-time women giving birth. This study provides evidence on the type of information that is required for first-time mothers from an evidence-based lens.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Learning Disabilities, Pregnancy, Birth, Mothers, Readiness, Access to Information, Clinics, Parent Attitudes, Parent Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ghana
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Department of Sociology and Social Work, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; 2Department of Planning and Social Development, Christian Service University College, Kumasi, Ghana; 3Department of Health Policy Management and Economics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

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