Effect of Awareness Programme on Knowledge regarding Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) among Antenatal Women in a Selected Hospital of West Bengal

Abstract

A quantitative study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of awareness programme on knowledge regarding respectful maternity care (RMC) among antenatal women in a selected hospital of West Bengal. In this study, quasi experimental research approach along with non-randomised control group design was adopted. Non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to select 60 antenatal women (30 each in experimental and control group) admitted in the antenatal ward, Medical College & Hospital (MCH) Kolkata during 1 Oct to 30 Nov 2013. Data was collected by a valid and reliable (r=0.86) structured interview schedule. Pre-test and post-test of control group was completed first. Then pre-test followed by awareness programme was given to experimental group and post-test was taken on Day 8. Results revealed that the mean post-test knowledge score (32.53) of experimental group was significantly higher [t (df29)=43.84**, p'lt;0.05, p'lt;0.01] than mean pre-test knowledge score (18.50). There was significant difference [t (df 58) = 9.99**, p'lt;0.05, p'lt;0.01] between the mean post-test knowledge scores of experimental and control groups, indicating the effectiveness of awareness programme. The study also found significant association between knowledge score of women with educational qualification (F2 df1 = 6.54, p'lt;0.05) and socio-economic status (F2 df1 = 6.04, p'lt;0.05). The study has implications in different nursing fields. The study recommends for a qualitative and survey on adherence to RMC.