Are pregnant women prepared to provide first aid to their newborns?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: : Life-threatening conditions occurring in the first months of child's life usually happen in the presence of witnesses who are at the same time the parents or caregivers of the victim. In such situations, provision of first aid increases their chance of survival. The knowledge and skills in this area should be taught already Turing antenatal classes. The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of pregnant women around first aid for newborns and infants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in a department of gynaecology and obstetrics in Warsaw In Q1 2021. A research tool in the form of an original knowledge test was prepared. The test covered the knowledge of resuscitation, burns, convulsions, anaphylaxis, fever, aspirations and disturbances of consciousness. Statistical analysis was conducted with the Shapiro–Wilk test and Spearman's rank correlation test and the results were interpreted according to J. Guilford's classification. A p-value < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. RESULTS: 238 women were enrolled in the study, aged 30.86 years on average (SD±4.86). Nearly a half (48.3%) of them was in their first pregnancy. The antenatal classes had been attended by 57.6% of the women; 35.7% had undergone first aid courses during those classes. The mean self-assessment of knowledge of the pregnant women was 3.36 (SD±0.97) and the mean self-assessment of their skills 3.16 (SD±0.96) on the five-point Likert scale. The correct answer average was 5.98 points. (SD±1.75) on a 0-10 scale. The largest gaps were demonstrated in the flowchart of management of cardiac arrest and disturbance of consciousness. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge and skills of pregnant women regarding first aid stand at an average level. The results suggest the need for implementation of proper courses in first aid in the curriculum of antenatal classes