EFFECT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS ON THE ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF ANTE NATAL WOMEN ATTENDING COMBINED MILITARY HOSPITAL QUETTA

ABSTRACT
Background: Socio-economic factor is an important health determinant. Its classic indicators are education, occupation
and income. These indicators play an important role in the social life of an individual. During pregnancy, women attitudes
and practices regarding breast feeding, birth spacing and family size might be associated with these indicators. This
study was conducted to see if there existed any significant association between socio-economic status, and attitudes
and practices of pregnant women.
Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Combined Military Hospital Quetta from from 1st
November 2017 to 28th February 2018 on antenatal women attending out patient department. A structured interviewer
administered questionnaire was used to extract information from 384 study participants selected through simple random
sampling technique.Data was analysed using SPSS Version 20 and MS-Excel 2007.Appropriate descriptive statistics
were calculated for different variables and significance was tested using Chi square test of independence at 95% level
of confidence.Ethical principles were properly observed.
Results: 66 (17.2%) of the study participants were primi gravida. Mean age of study participants was 27.5+4.8 years
with a mode equal to 30 Years. A non-normal skewed to the right distribution was noted for birth spacing. Statistically
high significant results were obtained for educational status as a predictor of breast feeding and parity.
Conclusion: Maternal education is found to be an important predictor of the important attributes of family planning.
Key words: Educational status, Pregnancy, Breast feeding, Birth intervals.