Determination of the preventive health care of mothers whose children are hospitalized and identifying the factors that them

Introduction: The primary goal of preventive health services is to protect and enhance the health of the community and its individual members. Preventive and protective health services created for women of reproductive age (15-44 years) aim to provide reproductive and sexual health services, as well as preventive healthcare. Objective: This study was conducted to examine the usage of preventive health services by mothers with hospitalized children and the factors influencing their usage. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted with 365 women whose children were hospitalized in a state hospital in Istanbul between 01.03.2022 and 01.09.2022. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the 'Descriptive and Preventive Health Services Utilization Information Form'. Frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation values were used in the analysis of the research data. Chi-square analysis was used for comparative analyses. In the study, p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Additionally, manual thematic analysis was used for the analysis of open-ended questions. Findings: The average age of the women was determined to be 29.56±5.69, gravidity 2 and parity 2 were identified. It was determined that 8.5% of the women had chronic diseases and more than half (58.0%) of those with chronic diseases went for regular check-ups. Of the women participating in the study, 32.3% had regular gynecological examinations, 57.1% had cervical smears at appropriate intervals, 14.5% underwent breast examinations, 59.7% had routine health examinations, and 53.7% received family planning counseling. Additionally, 19.7% of the women received counseling on smoking cessation. Factors identified as facilitating access to preventive health services included proximity of the home to the hospital, social support, and self-care. Barriers identified were lack of time, inability to get an appointment, being a caregiver, and social and financial inadequacies. One of the most striking findings of the research was that almost all of the women expressed their desire to receive counseling and services related to preventive health care while their children were hospitalized. Conclusion: The most commonly cited facilitators for women's use of preventive health services were living close to the hospital, having social support, and valuing oneself. The most commonly mentioned barriers were lack of time, inability to schedule appointments, being a caregiver, and social and financial inadequacies. It was highlighted that if there were a system in place facilitating access to preventive health care, women would be inclined to use it.