Date of Award

12-2023

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Advanced Practice Midwifery (MSc-APM)

First Advisor

Dr Maureen Akolo

Second Advisor

Dr. Gladys Mbuthia

Third Advisor

Prof. Eunice Ndirangu

Department

School of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa

Abstract

Preconception care (PCC) encompasses a range of biomedical, behavioural, and social interventions to improve pregnancy outcomes. However, the effective implementation of PCC services, particularly in developing countries, faces multifaceted challenges. This cross-sectional quantitative descriptive study was conducted among 104 nursing and midwifery students at Aga Khan University and selected through simple random sampling. Data was collected using semi-structured self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. 69.9% of the respondents were nurses, while 30.1% were midwives. 28.8% of participants knew the definition of PCC. The importance of various PCC components, such as nutritional deficiency screening, genetic risk assessment, environmental hazard prevention, fertility and infertility education, and HIV prevention, were emphasised. While 67.3% of respondents knew healthcare providers offering PCC in their workstations, a substantial 45% had not provided it in the past six months. The responsibility for initiating discussions on PCC was shared between consumers and providers, underscoring the need for proactive engagement in PCC discussions. Only 45.2% of facilities had written PCC guidelines, indicating potential standardisation gaps. 95.1% of respondents recognized PCC as a crucial health component for couples of childbearing ages but identified several barriers to its effective provision, including the need for provider updates, expanding PCC services to various delivery points, and developing comprehensive guidelines. These barriers may stem from knowledge gaps, institutional factors, and policy inadequacies. Addressing these challenges is imperative for optimising PCC services and improving maternal and child health outcomes. Bridging knowledge gaps among nursing and midwifery students should be a priority, and PCC provision should be diversified across healthcare professionals and settings. Developing clear, comprehensive guidelines is essential to standardise PCC practices and emphasize their importance to healthcare workers. Overcoming these barriers

First Page

1

Last Page

101

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