Assessment of Gaps in Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Antenatal Care Among Primigravida Women in the...

Background Good quality antenatal care (ANC) lays the foundation for a healthy pregnancy and favorable maternal and neonatal outcomes. Low utilization of ANC services is a global public health problem leading to preventable maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of primigravida women regarding ANC in the first trimester of pregnancy and to examine their associations with demographic variables at a selected community health center (CHC) in the district of Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. It also identified preferred ANC information topics and information sources among primigravida women to highlight gaps and support the development of targeted antenatal educational interventions to improve utilization of ANC services. Materials and methods The study employed a quantitative descriptive design using first-trimester pre-intervention baseline data from 124 primigravida women enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. One CHC in the Gautam Buddha Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh, was selected by lottery, and participants were recruited from it using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Data were collected using a demographic tool, a structured knowledge questionnaire, a five-point Likert attitude scale, and a self-reported practice checklist and were analyzed using SPSS Statistics version 20.0 (IBM Corp. Released 2011. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). Results The majority of participants demonstrated average knowledge (87, 70.2%) and good practices (103, 83.1%), while 64 (51.6%) showed a positive attitude toward ANC in the first trimester of pregnancy. The mean KAP scores were 26 ± 6.3, 111.8 ± 9.6, and 8.8 ± 1.4, respectively. Significant positive correlations existed between knowledge and attitude (0.59), attitude and practice (0.36), and knowledge and practice (0.38) at p < 0.001. Age, education, place of residence, and residence type were significantly associated with ANC knowledge (p < 0.05). Education, monthly family income, residence type, and mode of transport used to reach the CHC were significantly associated with attitudes toward ANC (p < 0.05). Family members and friends were the main sources of ANC information. Nutrition and diet were the most preferred topic of information. Conclusions The majority of primigravida women had average knowledge and good practices, and nearly half had a positive attitude toward ANC in the first trimester of pregnancy. The study findings highlight the need for targeted antenatal educational interventions that involve family members to further enhance their knowledge and attitudes toward ANC, thereby contributing to better utilization of ANC services and improved maternal and fetal health.