Knowledge and Practices Regarding Gestational Diabetes Mellitus among Antenatal Mothers

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Glucose intolerance result when pancreatic beta cell function is not able to compensate the degree of insulin resistance in pregnancy. Pregnancy induces progressive changes in maternal carbohydrate metabolism. As pregnancy advances insulin resistance and diabetogenic stress due to placental hormones necessitate compensatory increase in insulin secretion. When this compensation is inadequate gestational diabetes develops. The present study was to assess the knowledge and practices regarding Gestational Diabetes Mellitus disease among antenatal mothers attending MCH centre, Tirupati, Chittoor (dist), A. P. Non experimental descriptive research approach was adopted. A total of 100 subjects were selected by purposive sampling technique. A structured questionnaire and check list were developed and standardized to collect the data. The results revealed that 77 per cent of antenatal mothers had inadequate knowledge, 16 per cent of antenatal mothers had moderate adequate knowledge and 7 per cent of antenatal mothers had adequate knowledge. Regarding practices 14 per cent of antenatal mothers had inadequate practices, 74 per cent of antenatal mothers had moderate adequate practices and 7 per cent of antenatal mothers had adequate practices. Significant association was found between level of knowledge and area of living, Religion of the mother, Education of the mother and Education of the father found significantly associated with practices.