Effectiveness of Antenatal Educational Guidelines on Maternity Nurse’s Performance

Abstract

Antenatal care is a detailed, systematic examination and follow-up of pregnant female that includes
education, counseling, monitoring and therapy to address and treat minor issues and provide appropriate
screening during pregnancy. Aim of the study: Evaluate Antenatal education guidelines’ effectiveness
on maternity nurses’ performance (Knowledge and Practice). Design: A quasi-experimental design (pretest-
post-test). Setting: study was conducted in obstetric skill lab of faculty of nursing, Benha university .
Sample: A purposive sample was used to recruit 140 maternity nurses from Maternal and child health centers
at kalioubia governorate.. Tools: two data collection tools: A self-administered questionnaire sheet and an
observational practice checklist. Results: Highly statistically significant improvement in maternity nurse’s
knowledge score, it changed from 51.4% to 85% at post-intervention. Maternity nurses’ practice mean score
was satisfactory improved, as the mean score increased from 56.4% to 82.1% at the post-intervention phase.
Highly positive correlation between total nurse’s knowledge and practice score regarding antenatal care
was found. Conclusion: Provision of antenatal educational guidelines helped strengthen the awareness and
practice of maternity nurses on the various aspects of the antenatal period. Recommendations: The care of
pregnant women should be an integral part of the educational curriculum for nursing students.