Factors Affecting Diabetes Prevention of Pregnant Women in Sung Noen District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

          This study aims to examine factors affecting diabetes prevention behaviors of pregnant women in Sung Noen District Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The population included 403 pregnant women attending antenatal care services, at Sung Noen Hospital during 2018 fiscal year. The samples were 196 pregnant women, determined by Krejcie and Morgan’s table, and were randomly drawn from the population. The instrument used in this study was a questionnaire created by the researchers based on predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors from the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model and eating behaviors. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to determine relationships between factors, using a 0.05 significant level. The data were collected from September 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018. The results to the study showed that the majority of the sample was between the ages of 20-24 years (32.50%), married (89.79%), and housewives (42.50%). The samples’ body mass index (BMI) was at overweight level (36.92%) and obese (16.41%). This pregnancy was mostly their second pregnancies (38.26%) with their babies’ birthweights of 3,000 grams and over (41.29%). The samples attended antenatal care (ANC) during their first 1-3 weeks accounted for 6.81 percent. Their family incomes were mostly between 5,001-10,000 Baht per month (35.37%). They had allergy, thalassemia and thyroid as their primary illness (16.67%). About 23.47 percent had direct relatives with diabetes while knowledge regarding diabetes was at a high level (52.55%). The samples exercised at a moderate level (51.53%). Their eating practice was at a moderate level (87.24%). The family support was at a high level (93.87%). Most samples received quality antenatal care (92.03%). They received risk screening at high level through evaluation for complications and referrals to the doctor at a high level (58.67%). The analyses showed that occupation had a significant relationship with exercise behavior (X²=17.16, p-value = 0.05), gestational age. The first time that antenatal care (X² = 2.14,P-value = 0.03), (X² = 1.33, P-value = 0.04) and education level (X² = 9.72, P-value = 0.03), (X² = 6.72, P-value = 0.04) respectively, correlated with exercise behavior and eating behavior with statistical significance at .05. Support factors family support at related to exercise behavior with statistical significance at .05 (X² = 4.46,    P-value = 0.05). The supplementary factors for risk screening is related to exercise behavior and eating with statistical significance at 0.05 (X2 = 5.35, P-value = 0.01), (X² = 3.98, P-value = 0.02) The respectively based on the results of study, there are suggestion in research. The policy suggestion  to use the quality antenatal system so that pregnant women can receive effective services continuously, and have plan to develop participatory antenatal system at all levels, developmental recommendations are quality of antenatal care procedures should to encourage the promotion of knowledge, skills and practices in the prevention of diabetes continuously, and the encouraging maternal and child health service personnel to have knowledge, the skills and effective practices suggestions for further research there should to assess in knowledge, practice, skills in providing quality antenatal care services and services to prevent diabetes among pregnant women of each level.