Knowledge on Minor Ailments and its Management among Antenatal Mothers Attending Antenatal OPD in Selected Hospitals of Kamrup(M), Assam with a View to Develop an Information Booklet

Abstract

Pregnancy is considered as a natural phenomenon, it is a transition phase in every women life towards motherhood. Minor ailments are generally defined as medical conditions that will resolve on their own and can be reasonably self-diagnosed and self-managed with over-the-counter medications. Title of the study: A Study to Assess the Knowledge on Minor Ailments and its Management among Antenatal Mothers attending Antenatal OPD in selected Hospitals of Kamrup(M),Assam with a view to develop an Information booklet. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge on minor ailments and its management among antenatal mothers and too find the association between knowledge of antenatal mothers on minor ailments and its management with selected demographic variables. Methodology: A Non Experimental Descriptive Research design was adopted for the study. The sample consists of 138 antenatal mothers who were selected using convenience sampling technique from two hospitals of Kamrup(M),Assam. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule to assess the knowledge on minor ailments and its management. Results: Results showed that majority i.e.58% of the antenatal mothers had inadequate knowledge,19% had moderate knowledge and 23.18% had adequate knowledge. Age ,educational status ,occupation and source of information were found statistically significant at P<0.05 level with the knowledge of antenatal mothers regarding minor ailments and its management. Conclusion: The study concluded that antenatal mothers require more knowledge regarding minor ailments and its management. More studies can be undertaken not only to assess the knowledge but also to find out the attitude and practice regarding management of minor ailments.

Introduction

Pregnancy, though a joyful and creative period, often brings minor ailments like nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and frequent urination, which can significantly affect women's well-being. Globally, about 75% of pregnant women experience these issues. In India (2022), about 50–80% of pregnant women report such discomforts. However, research on minor ailments in pregnancy remains limited, especially in local Indian contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess:

1. Knowledge of antenatal mothers about minor ailments and their management.

2. The relationship between knowledge levels and demographic variables (e.g., age, education, occupation).

Review of Literature:

• Deori & Das (2023): Found most antenatal mothers in Assam had moderate knowledge of minor ailments but lacked deeper understanding.

• Kaur & Singh (2018): Most antenatal mothers in Punjab had only average or below-average knowledge regarding self-management of minor ailments during pregnancy.

Methodology:

• Design: Quantitative, non-experimental descriptive study.

• Setting: Two hospitals in Kamrup (M), Assam – Pratiksha Hospital and Satribari Christian Hospital.

• Sample: 138 antenatal mothers attending OPD, selected using non-probability consecutive sampling.

• Tool: Structured interview schedule (20 MCQs) and an information booklet on minor ailments and their management.

• Scoring:

  • <5: Inadequate knowledge

  • 5–11: Moderate knowledge

  • ≥12: Adequate knowledge

• Validity: Verified by 7 subject experts.

• Reliability: Established using Split-Half method with r = 0.79.

• Ethical Clearance: Obtained from relevant institutional and hospital authorities, with informed consent and confidentiality ensured.

Pilot Study:

Conducted at Marwari Maternity Hospital, Kamrup (M), with 20 antenatal mothers (Jan 18–25, 2024) to test the tool and methodology.

Main Study:

Data collected from April 29 to May 25, 2024, from 138 antenatal mothers. The study aims to raise awareness and improve knowledge by providing educational materials on managing minor ailments during pregnancy.

Conclusion

From the findings of the study it was concluded that most of the antenatal mothers have inadequate knowledge on minor ailments and its management. but an awareness programme would have been great effective to increase their knowledge which will be beneficial for the mothers as well as to the society. Therefore the investigator felt that more importance should be given on conducting awareness programme.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Rituparna Pathak, Mrs. Khundongbam Pinky, Mrs. Sangeeta Paul. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.