ASSESSMENT OF UKRAINIAN WOMEN'S KNOWLEDGE OF RISK FACTORS FOR PREMATURITY IN NURSING PRACTICE

Abstract

Introduction. Prematurity remains widespread medical and social problem in Ukraine and around the world.

The aim of the study – to assess the general knowledge of women of childbearing age regarding the main causes of prematurity.

The main part. A survey of 50 women aged 19 to 50 was conducted. Depending on the presence of children, all women were divided into two groups: Group I include 27 (54.0 %) women who had children, Group II – 23 (46.0 %) participants without children. Age and level of education were also assessed. The respondents were most knowledgeable about the negative effects of stress (72.0 %), drugs (72.0 %), very late age after 50 years (70.0 %), alcohol (68.0 %) and genital infections (68.0 %) on pregnancy outcome. While knowledge about lack of social support (10.0%), multiple pregnancy (18.0 %), very young age under 18 years (20.0 %), history of premature birth (22.0 %), underweight during or before pregnancy (36.0 %) were low. The presence of children did not affect the knowledge of the interviewed women in Ukraine about the reasons that lead to prematurity, while the level of education and age had an impact. Women with higher education were less aware of the negative impact on pregnancy the age after 50 (7.7 %), but were more aware of the impact of genital infections (80.8 %), stress (73.1 %) and violence (92.3 %); women under 30 knew better about the importance of social support (15.2 %); child free – about the impact of time between pregnancies (69.6 %). According to our data, the frequency of women who had baby with birth weight less than 2500 g was 10 %, which is comparable to the world statistics of premature births.

Conclusions. Women’s knowledge mostly depended on the level of education, and less on age and the presence of children.