Effectiveness of an educational program on knowledge of selected common pregnancy discomforts among pregnant mothers in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Insufficient understanding of pregnancy's common discomforts and their management has been seen among pregnant women. Thus, antenatal care should include comprehensive education on common pregnancy discomforts, delivered by maternity nurses, who play a crucial role in educating pregnant mothers. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program in improving pregnant mothers' knowledge and management options regarding common pregnancy discomforts in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. s1 METHODS A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest and posttest design was conducted in Al-Ahsa province, Saudi Arabia, among 131 pregnant mothers from the Maternity and Children's Hospital and primary health centers. Data were collected via a self-completed questionnaire in February 2024. Educational sessions were conducted as the study intervention. A paired t-test was used with p<0.001. Primary outcomes revealed increased knowledge in post-testing, supporting the effectiveness of the educational program. s2 RESULTS Using a pre-test as baseline knowledge, the study showed that 46.6% of participants possessed a moderate knowledge level regarding common pregnancy discomforts; meanwhile, 66.4% reported a good knowledge level regarding self-management practice. Following the educational intervention, the mean knowledge score increased significantly from 37.0 to 48.3 (mean difference=11.2, p<0.001). Similarly, the mean practice score increased significantly from 36.8 ± 7.0 to 42.6 ± 5.3 (mean difference=5.8, p<0.001). s3 CONCLUSIONS The study found that education significantly enhanced mothers’ knowledge and self-management of pregnancy discomforts, providing evidence supporting the implementation of education as an effective approach in prenatal care. s4