Health education needs of first visit pregnant women in antenatal clinics in Khayelitsha, South Africa

Abstract

Health education is a key component of first antenatal visits. The aim of thisstudy was to describe the health education needs of pregnant women ontheir first visit toantenatal clinicsinKhayelitsha, South Africa.A quantitative descriptive survey was conducted, to investigate the lifestyle, pregnancy-related, psycho-social health education needsand predictors of health education needsduringpregnant women’s first antenatal clinicvisit. The research was conductedat two purposivelyselected antenatal clinics inKhayelitsha, a low-incomesuburb in Cape Town,South Africa.The respondents were considered eligiblefor the study if they were Xhosaspeaking,pregnant,older than 18 years, making a first visit to antenatal care,and able to complete their consent form or provideconsentfrom parents or relatives. Respondents wereeligiblefor the study regardless of the number ofpregnanciesthey had previously had, their age and previous medical conditions.