IJCRR - 14(11), June, 2022
Pages: 18-25
Date of Publication: 03-Jun-2022
Print Article
Download XML Download PDF
A Study to Assess the Effect of Nursing Interventions on Selected Minor Ailments Among Antenatal Primigravida Women in Selected Areas
Author: Nikhila R. Nair, Martha Sunil Raut, Rupali Milind Salvi, Nisha Naik
Category: Healthcare
Abstract:Introduction: Minor ailments are common throughout pregnancy due to the physiological and psychological changes in women's bodies. Constipation and foot edema are quite common ailments during pregnancy. As during pregnancy women's increased weight pressures will also increase to the ankles, knees, and feet. To reduce selected minor ailments selected nursing interventions were provided in this study. Aim: To evaluate the effect of nursing interventions on selected minor ailments among antenatal primigravida women in selected areas. Methods and Material: Quasi-experimental pre-test post-test control group design was adapted. The study was conducted among antenatal primigravida women with selected minor ailments. 60 samples were selected using non-probability purposive sampling and data collection was done by using demographic variables, Pitting Edema Scale & Modified Constipation Assessment Scale. Nursing interventions provided to the experimental group. No intervention to control group. Results: The study findings showed that antenatal foot and leg exercises and consumption of fibrous fruits led to improvement in foot edema and constipation in the experimental group as compared to the control group who do not get any nursing interventions. Conclusion: Study concluded that selected nursing interventions were significantly effective in the improvement of foot edema and constipation among antenatal primigravida women.
Keywords: Antenatal, Constipation, Edema, Minor ailments, Nursing interventions, Primigravida
Full Text:
INTRODUCTION:
Pregnancy means the time during which one or more offspring develop in the womb of the woman. The result of the pregnancy will be live birth or any minor or major complications that may cause.1 About 50 million women affect minor disorders of pregnancy in India.2 Minor ailments can be directly or indirectly related to increased levels of estrogen and progesterone present during pregnancy.3
Constipation and foot edema are quite common ailments during pregnancy. Constipation having Atonicity of the gut due to the effect of progesterone diminished physical activity and pressure of the gravid uterus on the pelvic colon which is unable to pass stool properly.4
Foot edema is caused by abnormal fluid retention in the tissues of the lower extremities. Exercising daily by pregnant women, throughout pregnancy will improve blood circulation, and reduce edema. Common intervention to reduce edema includes Foot exercises. To reduce or maintain constipation, fibrous and vitamin c fruits will be helpful.
If some minor ailment is left unattended or no care is provided then can become worsen and complicate pregnancy. Midwife nurses have a very important role in educating mothers and managing minor ailments.
The overall prevalence rate of foot edema during pregnancy was 8.5%.5 At some stage in pregnancy 8 out of 10 women have foot edema. Foot edema is found in about 80% of all pregnancies.6 It is necessary that pregnant women should be aware of how to take care of themselves during pregnancy so as to reduce the risk of minor disorders.
A study was conducted, to evaluate the knowledge of pregnant women regarding antenatal exercise and the effect of antenatal exercise on antenatal mothers. The study was conducted at Smt. Kashibai Navale Medical College and General Hospital, Pune. Data were collected from pregnant women by structured questionnaire and demonstrated antenatal exercise to pregnant women. Out of 30 samples, 11 were primigravida and 14 were the second gravida, and 5 were the third gravida this shows that multigravida women had more adequate knowledge regarding antenatal exercise than the primigravida women. The study conclude that most antenatal women were not having adequate knowledge and awareness of antenatal exercise.7
A study was conducted to check the intake of dietary fiber and the effect of fiber supplementation, 40 women have constipation were selected. Recorded their diet and bowel pattern for 4 weeks. After 2 weeks observation of the women were checked and divided into three groups and asked to take about 10 g of dietary fiber supplements per day. Results showed that changes were followed by an increase in the number of bowel movements and a stool became softer in Group A and B, and no changes in Group C who were not taking intervention. Hence study concluded that there was an effect of dietary supplements on constipation during pregnancy.8
If pregnant women consume a high-fiber diet, during pregnancy constipation can be reduced. Fiber-rich food will be helpful to keep the intestinal system running smoothly or soluble fiber is also helpful for water to remain in stool and make waste softer and easier to pass through the intestine.9 If minor ailments are neglected by pregnant women these ailments which minor leads to major complications to the mother and fetus.
That’s why want to demonstrate and teach them about foot and leg exercises and the importance of using fibrous fruit in their diet. The mother has to take care of herself and get a nursing intervention to prevent complications of selected minor ailments; therefore, this study aimed to determine the level of selected minor ailments & evaluate the effect of nursing interventions on selected minor ailments among antenatal primigravida women,
MATERIAL AND METHODS:
RESEARCH DESIGN
In this study Quasi-experimental, pre-test post-test control group design was used to assess the effect of nursing interventions on selected minor ailments among antenatal primigravida women in selected areas.
SETTING
The setting of the study was Dr. D. Y. Patil Hospital and Research Centre, Pimpri, Pune.
SAMPLE
The sample selected for the present study comprised antenatal primigravida women from 18 to 35 years of age.
INSTRUMENT
In this study, the tool consisted of the following:-
-
Demographic Variables: this includes 9 questions that obtain information regarding demographic data such as the age of the women, type of family, education, occupation, religion, gestational age, socio-economic status, and weight and bowel pattern of antenatal primigravida women.
-
Pitting Edema Scale: It consists of Pitting Edema Scale to assess foot edema among antenatal primigravida women. Measured the depth of the indention. Recorded how long it takes for skin to rebound back to its original position. Grading has been done on a scale from 1-4.
-
Modified Constipation Assessment Scale: It consists of the Modified Constipation Assessment Scale to assess constipation. In this 16 questions were asked to women which were present on the scale according to the answers soring was given to them.
INTERVENTION
Nursing interventions-(Demonstrated antenatal foot and leg exercise). Exercises are done by antenatal primigravida women two times a day for 30 minutes each time (morning and evening) for 15 days. After 15 days again assessment was done by using Pitting Edema Scale to check the level of foot edema and to check the effect of the nursing intervention.
(One Banana in the morning as well as one Orange in the evening for 15 days). After 15 days on the 16th-day assessment of constipation was done with the Modified Constipation Assessment Scale on the experimental and control group to check the effect of fruits on constipation.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATION
The research study was approved by Sub Ethical Committee (DYPV / CON/ 523/ 2020), and the Research & Recognition Committee (DPU / 656 / - 15 / 2020) of Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth Pune.
DATA COLLECTION
After obtaining administrative permissions were procured from hospital authorities. The actual data was collected from 07/02/2021 to 22./02/2021
SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM
DATA ANALYSIS:
Descriptive and analytical statistics were done. The data is represented in mean and standard deviation. The association of the selected minor ailments with selected socio-demographic variables was analyzed by Fisher’s exact test. The paired sample t-test and two-sample t-test were used to check to mean differences. The level of significance was kept at p<0.05. The software used was R Software.
RESULTS:
Table 1, describes the demographic details of the samples involved in the study in terms of frequencies & percentages.
Table 2 shows, Majority antenatal primigravida women have 2+ grade edema 56.7% in experimental group and 53.3% in control group.
The researcher applied a two-sample t-test to check the effect of nursing interventions on constipation among samples. The average change in constipation score in the experimental group was 1.0 which is less -0.5 in the control group. “t-value” for this test was 5.4 with 58 degrees of freedom. The corresponding p-value was small (less than 0.05), and the null hypothesis is rejected. The average change in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group.
It is evident that the nursing interventions were significantly effective in improving constipation among antenatal primigravida women
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Descriptive and analytical statistics were done. The data is represented in mean and standard deviation. The association of the level of selected minor ailments with selected socio-demographic variables was analyzed by Fisher’s exact test. The paired sample t-test and two-sample t-test were used to check to mean differences. The level of significance was kept at p<0.05. The software used was R Software.
DISCUSSION
The aim of the study was to assess the effect of nursing interventions on selected minor ailments among antenatal primigravida women.
A quasi-experimental, study was conducted at selected hospitals in central Gujarat. Two group pretest post-test design was used & 70 samples were selected for the study. Group A or Group B. Data of the participants was collected. An observational checklist was used to assess foot edema during Pretest. Thereafter participants were asked to do foot exercises 2 times a day for 3 days for 20 minutes, Posttest was done. The result showed that the standard deviation for right foot edema during the pretest was 7.08 which was reduced in the posttest to 6.78. The standard deviation for left foot edema during the pretest was 6.87 which was reduced in the posttest by 6.77. Does it show that there was a significant effect of foot exercise on foot edema with p-value ? 0.001 for both feet. The study revealed that a significant effect was found in relieving foot edema at a 0.05 level of significance. (Mamta Vasaiya et.al, 2018)10
An experimental study was conducted to check the existing level of constipation during the third trimester and to assess the effect of fruit laxatives on the reduction of constipation among antenatal mothers. Antenatal mothers from Bangalore having constipation were selected. After data collection structured questionnaire was provided as an interview schedule to antenatal mothers and observation will be done by the use of ROME II criteria to check the existing level of constipation. After that administered fruit laxative that was 100 gm of grapes and 100 gm of banana twice a day for 3 days to antenatal mothers. Post-test will be done after 3 days to check the level of constipation after the intervention. The study concluded that improvement in constipation was due to fruit laxative among antenatal mothers. ( Ms. Dineshwori Paonam, 2008)11
A Descriptive study was conducted in 2018 to check the knowledge of antenatal mothers on the management of minor ailments during pregnancy at NMCH, Nellore. antenatal mothers were selected by using Non-probability convenient sampling who was admitted to an antenatal ward at NMCH, Nellore. Demographical variables were provided to mothers to obtain their data and a self-structured knowledge questionnaire to check the knowledge of antenatal mothers regarding the management of minor ailments during pregnancy. Results of the study show that the level of knowledge among mothers was 30/60 which means 50% of mothers had inadequate knowledge, 22/60 which means 36.7% of mothers had moderate knowledge, and 8/60 means 13.3% of mothers had adequate knowledge regarding the management of minor ailments during pregnancy. The study concluded that for most antenatal mothers, 30/60 means 50% antenatal mothers had inadequate knowledge related to the management of minor ailments during pregnancy. (Kommuri Vennela Kumari, 2019)12
The present study was conducted to assess the existing level of minor ailments, the effect of selected nursing interventions on selected minor ailments, and the association between selected minor ailments among antenatal primigravida women with selected demographical variables. In this study 60 antenatal primigravida, women were selected and divided into two groups experimental and control groups. A pitting edema assessment scale and a modified constipation assessment scale were used to check the existing level of selected minor ailments. The researcher demonstrated Antenatal foot and leg exercises and was advised to take one banana and one orange daily and again after 2 weeks posttest done by the researcher. Data were analyzed and interpreted by descriptive and inferential statistics. The study result found that T-value for this test was 5.4 with 58 degrees of freedom. Fisher’s exact test was used to find out the association between edema grades among antenatal primigravida women with selected demographic variables. P-values corresponding to age and occupation are small (< = 0.05), and demographic variables age and occupation were found to have a significant association with the edema. The null hypothesis is rejected. The study concluded that nursing interventions were significantly effective in improving edema and constipation among antenatal primigravida women.
Many advantages occur from providing selected nursing interventions that reduce selected minor ailments during pregnancy. This study reflects the effects of exercising and consuming fibrous fruits to reduce edema and constipation which was shown within the experimental group compared with the control group. Therefore, all governmental/educational hospitals should provide effective planned in-service training programs for midwifery nurses regarding nursing intervention advantages during pregnancy. Furthermore, research is required to assess the effect of nursing intervention on multiparous women having selected minor ailments. A comparative study can be done between multi-gravida and primigravida women with minor ailments.
CONCLUSION
The overall experience of conducting this study was a satisfying one, as there was good cooperation from antenatal primigravida women. The study was a new learning experience for the researcher. This study highlights that antenatal foot and leg exercise and intake of fibrous fruits will improve foot edema and constipation during pregnancy. The present study suggests that there is a need to improve the knowledge of antenatal primigravida women regarding complications of minor ailments during pregnancy and the importance of antenatal foot and leg exercise and the use of fibrous fruit in diet during pregnancy.
The study concluded that nursing interventions were significantly effective in improving edema and constipation among antenatal primigravida women.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors acknowledge the immense support received from Dr. D. Y. Patil College of Nursing and Dr. D. Y. Patil Hospital staff, Antenatal primigravida women, and family for completing this study. The authors are grateful for the help received from the scholars whose articles are cited and included in the references of this manuscript. The authors are also thankful to the authors/editors/publishers of all those articles, journals, and books from where the literature for this article has been reviewed and discussed.
Source of Funding: None
Conflict of Interest: None
Authors’ Contribution: All the authors have contributed to the planning, implementation and analysis of the research study and its presentation in the form of the manuscript.
References:
1. Eunice Kennedy “Pregnancy: Condition Information” Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. 19 March 2015.
2. George M S, the effectiveness of planned teaching program on the management of selected minor ailments in terms of home remedies of primigravidae mothers during first trimester of pregnancy in selected hospitals, Bangalore, Karnataka, I-XIV: 1-175. 2005
3. Abdellah F G, Levine E. Better Patient Care through Nursing Research. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co. 1979
4. Konar H, Dutta DC, Comprehensive textbook of obstetrics, antenatal care, (6th ed.). Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. 2006
5. Davison J M, Edema in pregnancy, Kidney International Supplements, 59:S90 1997
6. Vasaiya M, Tiwari A, the effect of foot exercise and warm water .foot soak on foot edema among antenatal women - a literature review Int. J. Adv. Res. 1st, 7(3), 83-87. 2019
7. Bhanari A, Effectiveness of demonstration of antenatal exercise on the Knowledge of antenatal mothers attending antenatal OPD, Sinhgade J. Nurs, Vol. IV, Issue II/12,: 37-38,2016
8. Rachelle A. Pretorius, Debra J. Palmer, High-Fiber Diet during Pregnancy Characterized by More Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, Nutrients, vol-13(1): 35,2020
9. Anderson A S, Dietary factors in the etiology and treatment of constipation during pregnancy, BJOG BJOG-INT J OBSTET GY.93(3), 245-9, 1986
10. Vasaiya M, Tiwari A, Effect of foot exercise and warm water foot soak on foot edema among antenatal women- a literature review, Int. J. Adv. Res., 7(3), 83-87, 2019
11. Paonam D, A study to assess the effectiveness of fruit laxative on reduction of constipation among antenatal mothers in third trimester in selected areas, Bangalore,:1-13, 2008
12. Vennela KK, Knowledge on the management of minor ailments during pregnancy among antenatal mothers in NMCH, Int J Gynaecol Obstet 1(2): 20-22, 201
|