Background: A woman is more susceptible to infections during pregnancy. Unhygienic practices during this period may lead to infectious diseases like COVID-19, gingivitis, pyelonephritis; adverse obstetric outcomes like prematurity and low birth weight. Among these, COVID 19 deserves special mention in present world scenario. With immunocompromised status and physiological adaptive changes during pregnancy, pregnant women could be more susceptible to COVID-19 and other infections than the general population. The provision of safe water, sanitation, waste management and hygiene practices are imperative to limit the transmission of infection and protection of health during this pandemic. Thus it is imperative that personal hygiene and sanitation are maintained by antenatal mothers so as to prevent maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Objectives: To determine the knowledge and existing practice of personal hygiene and sanitation among the antenatal mothers in a tertiary hospital of Kolkata. Method: A cross-sectional study was performed in a tertiary hospital in Kolkata where 120 antenatal mothers visiting the OPD and 50 antenatal mothers admitted in the Obstetrics ward during the study period were selected for the study by consecutive sampling and complete enumeration, respectively. Data was collected from the chosen antenatal mothers with the help of a pre-designed pre-tested questionnaire and then analysed by suitable descriptive and analytical statistical methods. Results: Among 170 antenatal mothers, majority (98.2%) were housewives; 41.8% were between 25-30 years of age and 63.5% of them were primigravida. The study revealed that majority of the interviewed antenatal mothers (75.9%) cleaned their teeth twice daily and 72.4%bathed once in a day. About 44.7% cleaned their genital area twice daily. Most of them (83.5%) washed their nipples with soap and water among which 70.4% stated that this is important to protect the newborn from any infection during the lactation period by keeping their nipples clean. Majority 99.4% washed their hands before eating and after using the toilet. 75.9% had no idea about the 6 steps of hand washing. 37.7% used domestic filter as their source of drinking water. The use of community toilets was still in practice among a few (7.1%). Majority (44.7%) opined that use of toilet is necessary to prevent access of animals and flies to the urine and faecal matter. Conclusion: In this study, it was found most of the mothers had adequate knowledge as well as practices regarding personal hygiene and sanitation.
Impact Factor
2022: 6.012
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