Health practices of pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in the Western Cape, South Africa: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background: Health practices are the decisions and actions pregnant women take to manage pregnancy and health issues, reflecting self-care behaviours that influence maternal and neonatal outcomes. Aim: To investigate the health practices of pregnant women attending antenatal clinics. Setting: Selected antenatal clinics in primary healthcare facilities in the Western Cape. Methods: A sample size of 267 pregnant women was drawn from three intentionally selected primary healthcare facilities in the Western Cape, chosen for their high antenatal attendance rates in the sub-district. The sample size was calculated using a sample size calculator, and respondents were selected using a systematic sampling method. A validated scale, Health Practices in Pregnancy Questionnaire-II, was used to collect data. Data were analysed per scale instructions using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 30 for descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The study achieved a response rate of 248 respondents. The respondents were on average 27.4 years old (sd=7.53), with 193 (77.8%) reporting that they attended secondary school. Just over half of the respondents (n=126, 50.8%) did not know the gestational age of their current pregnancy. Respondents had low health practices scores (108.11/170 (sd=9.17) [CI=95%: 106.96-109.26, range 83.80 to 138.80]. Positive health practices were rated higher than abstaining from harmful practices. No significant predictors of health practices were found. Conclusion: Health practices should receive specific focus in health education activities. Contribution: The authors recommend that nurses at antenatal clinics should educate pregnant women about the importance of health practices as part of self-care promotion.