Assessment of the Risk Status of Antenatal Mothers Attending Selected Hospital at Mangaluru

Background: All pregnancies are at risk even though most of the pregnancies and childbirth worldwide are uneventful. Almost 15% of all the pregnant women can develop potentially life-threatening complications which might require skilled care with some requiring major intervention for survival. Complications can occur anytime during the course of the pregnancy and childbirth, which in turn can affect the health and the overall survival of mother and the fetus. Hence there is a need to identify those high risk pregnancy groups for whom a greater degree of care is required. This study aimed to identify the risk status among antenatal mothers thus enhancing the mother to have a clear understanding about health.

Methods: A quantitative research approach with descriptive survey design was used to assess the risk status of pregnancy among antenatal mothers. The study was conducted among 100 antenatal mothers in a selected hospital, Mangaluru.

Results: The present study revealed that maximum number of antenatal mothers (33.7%) were in the age group of 25-30 years and 31-36 years.41.6% antenatal mothers had high school education,24.8% had PUC education.41.6% of antenatal mothers were from nuclear family and 40.6% belongs to second trimester. The maximum number of antenatal mothers (39.6%) belongs to second gravida.75.2% of antenatal mothers belongs to above poverty line. Analysis of the association between risk statuses of pregnancy with selected demographic variables reveals that there is significant association between risk status of pregnancy with age in years and gravida status of antenatal mothers at 0.05 level of significance. In this study 55% of antenatal mothers belong to high risk pregnancy status and remaining 45% were at low risk status.

Conclusion: The study reflects that most of the pregnant women are in high risk status of pregnancy. The overall findings of the study clearly showed that there is significant level of risk status of pregnancy among antenatal mothers.