SELF CARE PRACTICES UTILIZED BY PREGNANT WOMEN IN EARLY PREGNANCY IN MANSOURA CITY

Objectives: The aim of the present study is to; identify pregnant women self-care practices in early pregnancy.
Subjects and Methods: The study was carried out at ante-natal clinics in 6 health centers ,and 2 hospitals affiliated to the different available health organization in Mansoura city using a cross-sectional descriptive design. The study subjects consisted of 350 users of antenatal care services. An interview schedule was designed and utilized to collect the necessary data.
Results: The finding of the current study revealed that the majority of women lacked basic and essential knowledge about antenatal care. Thus more than two thirds (68.0%) had a bath twice weekly, and (78.0%) washed their breasts with soap and water, and (55.6%) brushed their teeth with water only. Suitable clothes were used by only (53.4%), and (46.0%) had insufficient hours for night sleep, while, 41.4% consumed adequate diet. However, the majority (77.4%) of the studied group had been immunized against tetanus during the current pregnancy. As for minor discomforts of pregnancy 58.6% had morning sickness and 37.1% suffered from constipation as well as insomnia 58.6% and heaviness of the breasts (38.0%). Both traditional, harmful and harmless practices were used in coping with these discomforts.                          Recommencations: Nurses should be trained in counseling pregnant women about their needs and self care management and encouraged to use information guide as a good educational tool in counseling them.                                                                                                                    Conclusion: women were lacking essential and basic knowledge about physiological and psychological adaptation to pregnancy and consequently their self-care requisites and health deviations from normal and how to cope these discomforts