Hygiena 2014, 59(4):162-166 | DOI: 10.21101/hygiena.a1267

Which Expecting Mothers Prepare for Their Pregnancy and Motherhood?

Radka Wilhelmová^1,2, Drahoslava Hrubá¹

¹ Masarykova Univerzita, Lékařská Fakulta, Ústav ochrany a podpory zdraví, Brno

² Masarykova Univerzita, Lékařská Fakulta, Katedra porodní asistence, Brno

Healthy lifestyle resulting from well-informed parental knowledge is a condition of both reproductive and general health. Results of current studies show that both pre-conceptual and prenatal unhealthy lifestyles of mothers/parents play an important role in the etiology of different health malfunctions and abnormalities in ontogeny. These malfunctions and abnormalities can be manifested either immediately or with a long latency. The knowledge and habits of women can be significantly influenced by midwives in prenatal courses or, optimally, in a pre-conception advisory capacity. The goal of our work was to ascertain the current situation of pregnanacy and maternity preparedness and associated determining factors. A questionnaire survey and evaluation of chosen anthropometrical parameters were used. The study revealed that existing pregnancy and maternity preparation is insufficient, with associated inadequacies or risks in behaviour. In most cases the results correlated with the educational capacity of mothers and were better in cases where the subjects had prepared for their pregnancy and maternity. Prenatal courses are attended by a relatively low number of women and are least attended by women with lower education levels, for whom such courses would yield greater benefits.

Keywords: preconception preparation, prenatal care, pregnancy

Received: October 2013; Accepted: July 9, 2014; Published: December 1, 2014  Show citation