“GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS: ANTENATAL WOMEN’S HEALTH AND KNOWLEDGE “

Abstract

Introduction: Antenatal women must be healthy to give birth to healthy newborn. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus among antenatal women can be managed by different ways to maintain normal blood sugar level and prevent complications. Health awareness, knowledge on life style modification and dietary sugar control helps to maintain blood sugar level within normal range.  Gestational Diabetes Mellitus is one of the major health issue among antenatal women and so prevention is better that cure and controlling complications are primary goal.    Aims:  The aim of this study to evaluate the health status and knowledge levels of antenatal women regarding Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, its prevention and management of disease condition and associated complications. Materials & Methods: This study adopted quantitative approach and the research design was non experimental descriptive Survey. The sample of the study consists of 200 antenatal women who were between 24-38 weeks of pregnancy, aged between 21 to 35 years and diagnosed Gestational Diabetes Mellitus from selected hospitals and areas of Pune, Maharashtra.  Participants were selected with non-probability purposive sampling techniques.  Written consent from the participants was taken, made them comfortable and tool was administered, each participants were given 30-35 minutes and data collected by using semi structured interview technique. Data collection of the study was based on study objectives, demographic variables and health status assessment and knowledge-based tool. Result:  41 % of the participants were in their 30–33 gestational weeks followed by 39% in their 24–29 and 21% 34-38 gestational weeks and 54% of the participants were primipara, and the remaining 46% were multipara. The majority of antenatal women had good health status i.e. 69% where as 17% were had very good health and 14 % had poor health status. The knowledge levels among the participants varied,  82% of participants had average knowledge regarding Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, indicating a moderate understanding of the condition , 8.5% exhibited good knowledge showing strong awareness of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus management, dietary recommendations  and blood glucose monitoring. 9.5% had poor knowledge highlighting gaps in understanding particularly in recognizing the complications and long-term risks associated with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Conclusion: The study concluded that antenatal mothers with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus had average physical health status. Majority of participants being primigravida had good knowledge on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and its home management.