Self-care practices among women with gestational diabetes in low-resource settings in Ghana: a phenomenological study

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) poses significant challenges to pregnant women and requires self-care practices for optimal outcomes. This study explored the self-care practices of pregnant women diagnosed with GDM in the Ho Municipality. A qualitative study using a Husserlian phenomenological design was employed. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 20 pregnant women with GDM. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Three (3) major themes and eleven (11) subthemes were identified. The themes that emerged included (a) knowledge of GDM, (b) concerns related to the management of GDM, (c) self-care practices for GDM, and (d) barriers and facilitators towards the management. Participants demonstrated awareness of hormonal and genetic risk for GDM; however, there was limited understanding of its development and management, particularly regarding the use of oral medications during pregnancy. Many participants reported emotional distress following the diagnosis. Key challenges included difficulty adhering to dietary and medication regimens and inadequate knowledge. Time constraints were identified as major barriers, while strong social support systems facilitated effective blood glucose management. The findings reveal gaps in knowledge and challenges in self-care among women with GDM in the Ho Municipality. There is a need for targeted education and support interventions to improve self-care practices and health outcomes.