Common First-Trimester Minor Discomfort: Impact of an Educational Program on Women’s Self-Care Practices

Abstract

Minor discomforts, although not life-threatening, can affect the mother’s comfort and well-being, and their neglect may result in more serious problems. These discomforts can often be relieved through self-care measures or healthy practices. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of an educational program on women’s self-care practices regarding common minor discomforts during the first trimester of pregnancy. A quasi-experimental design was used, with a convenience sample consisting of 358 pregnant women who were evaluated in outpatient clinics at Beba Hospital, affiliated with the Ministry of Health in the Beni-Suef Governorate, Egypt. Four data collection instruments were used: (I) a structured interviewing questionnaire; (II) a self-reported practices questionnaire related to morning sickness (nausea and vomiting); (III) a self-reported practices questionnaire related to frequency of micturition; and (IV) a self-reported practices questionnaire related to fatigue. Regarding participants’ characteristics, 41.6% had technical secondary education and 24% had postgraduate education. In the pretest, 16.5% of the pregnant women always avoided spicy food, which increased to 81.6% in the posttest. Additionally, 25.1% of the participants always or frequently emptied their bladder during the day and took medication as prescribed by doctors, which improved to 55% in the posttest. Regarding activity reduction, 16.8% of the pregnant women reported always reducing activities in the pretest, increasing to 64.5% in the posttest. Based on the results, there was a statistically significant improvement in the pregnant women’s practices in the posttest regarding nausea and vomiting, frequent urination, and fatigue compared to the pretest. The study highlights the importance of collaboration with public health organizations to implement national awareness programs aimed at educating pregnant women about minor discomforts during the first trimester and providing resources that promote safer self-care during pregnancy.