Knowledge, attitude and practice of post-natal exercises among post-natal women from a tertiary care centre, South India

Background: Stressful puerperal period and its complications can be prevented by adequate care, proper diet and exercises. Though studies have indicated post-natal exercises (PNE) is helpful in reducing the effect of perineal muscle weakness, many women are unaware of its full benefits. This study is planned to know the knowledge, attitude and practice of PNE in post-natal mothers.Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in department of obstetrics and gynecology for 3 months (November 2019 to January 2020). 160 post-natal women were enrolled with convenient sampling. Structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and obstetric details, source of information, knowledge, attitude and practice of PNE.Results: A total 58.8% of this study participants revealed health care professions were the commonest source of information. More than half of them had adequate knowledge but still many were not aware of full benefits of PNE as only 3-5% aware of other benefits like prevention of urinary incontinence. 98.8% of the women’s felt PNE is essential and 62.5% felt household work hinder them doing. 92.5% said they will emphasize the importance of PNE to others. No significant correlation found between socio-demographic characters and knowledge, attitude and practice of PNE.Conclusions: Though most of the study population had adequate knowledge and positive attitude, household activities were the commonest barrier in doing PNE. Educating and creating awareness among family members is essential to improve the adherence. Continuing influence by health care workers during antenatal and postnatal period will be the key for improving adherence.

Serum magnesium at 18-20 weeks of gestation: can it be a predictor of gestational hypertension and fetomaternal outcome?

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) is a major cause of maternal, fetal morbidity and mortality complicating 10% of all gestations. As effective treatments are very limited, prediction of HDP occurrence is most importance. Though many biomarkers have shown relationship with HDP, serum magnesium (Mg) has shown better predictor as involved in maintaining vascular contractility, tone. This study is intended to analyse incidence of GHT and fetomaternal outcome in pregnant women with normal and low serum magnesium level measured at mid trimester (18-20 weeks).Methods: A total of 105 consecutive singleton pregnant women in between 18-20 weeks of gestation attending OBG outpatient department were enrolled. After obtaining the informed consent, structured proforma was used to collect demographic, clinical details. Serum magnesium was measured by the colorimetric method and study participants were divided into two groups based on Mg cut off 1.5 mg/dl and followed up throughout pregnancy for fetomaternal outcome.Results: This study results revealed that 35.2% (37/105) pregnant women had serum Mg level < 1.5 mg/dl and mean value of Mg of all participant is 1.7 mg/dl, just above the lower limit. During follow-up of these two groups, statistically significant correlation between serum Mg levels (< 1.5 mg/dl) with GHT (8/12) occurrence and pre term birth was found. Other fetomaternal outcome not had significant correlation.Conclusions: As per the findings, serum Mg concentration measurement in between 18-20 weeks can be considered as a one of the predictors for subsequent occurrence of maternal outcome of GHT and fetal outcome of pre-term birth.