An assessment of maternal knowledge about Health in Pregnancy and Early Childhood in Rural Tanzania: Case Study of Lindi Rural District - Tanzania.
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Date
2008-09
Authors
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Publisher
Kampala International University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Abstract
This research was conducted to describe maternal knowledge about health in pregnancy
and early childhood in rural Tanzania. It was also discovered that perceptions of risk
during pregnancy shape behaviours in pregnancy and at childbirth, and influence
pregnancy outcomes as well as neonatal health and survival. Identifying local
understandings of obstetric risk is a key strategy for the development of appropriate
behaviour change communication strategies to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes at
the community level. I qualitatively analyzed the primary data from the field including
interviews and focus group discussion I conducted with pregnant women, women with
young children, community respected persons (CORPs) professional health workers from
local communities and traditional birth attendants in Lindi rural district of southern
Tanzania to explain local understandings of risks women face during pregnancy and
behaviours traditionally practiced to minimize these risks. Women's understandings of
biomedical risk corresponded closely to common danger signs; however, social and
spiritual factors were also perceived to place women and their developing babies at risk,
and elaborate strategies were reportedly employed to preserve social harmony and protect
against harm from malicious spirits or individuals. Using these findings, I identified
opportunities for behaviour change communication strategies to improve maternal and
neonatal health outcomes. Qualitative research such as this supports the development of
behaviour change messages that link communities and health facilities to improve
prenatal and obstetric care.
Generally, I would recommend that different bodies should combine efforts in order to
make concrete policies, and any other effort needed to eliminate the problem of maternal
and newborns mortality.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Social
Sciences in Partial Fulfillment for the Award of a Bachelor's
Degree in Social Work and Social Administration of
Kampala International University.
Keywords
Early Childhood, Pregnancy, Maternal Knowledge, Assessment, Rural Areas, Lindi Rural District - Tanzania