The effect of the education provided in pregnant classes and schools on the knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women: a case study of Kirklareli̇

Background and Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of the education given in pregnant classes and schools in Kırklareli province on the knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women. Material and Methods: The type of our research is an intervention study to determine the effect of the education given to pregnant women who attend trainings held in pregnancy classes and schools in Kırklareli Province on their knowledge and attitudes. The research was conducted in all pregnant classes and schools in Kırklareli Province between 7 November 2022 and 14 April 2023. It was aimed to study all pregnant women who attended the training on these dates and agreed to participate in the research, and no sample selection was made. 120 pregnant volunteers participated in the study and were taken as the population. In the first stage of the research, 34 individual identification forms including questions about sociodemographic characteristics (age, income, education level, social security, etc.), pre-pregnancy, birth and postpartum period questions, and 30 questions about pregnancy, birth, puerperium, breastfeeding and baby care were collected. A survey was conducted to measure the knowledge level of pregnant women before the training, which included questions on the number of menstrual periods. In the second stage of the research, 30 knowledge level surveys, which they answered before the training, were re-administered after the training to the pregnant women who completed their education after the training given in pregnancy classes/schools. In order to measure satisfaction with pregnancy classes and schools, a 15-question satisfaction survey was also conducted for pregnant women who completed their education. Results: The average age of the pregnant women participating in the study is 28.73 ± 4.14 years (minimum: 19 maximum: 46 years) and 64. 2 % of the participants reside in the districts. 70 % of pregnant women have a bachelor's degree or higher. When the average monthly income of the pregnant women in our research group was examined, it was found to be 17,830 TL ± 8,221 Turkish Lira (TL) (minimum: 6,000 TL, maximum: 60,000 TL). It is seen that 97.5 % of pregnant women have health insurance. Among the pregnant women, 90 people stated that it was their first pregnancy, while 23 people stated that it was their second pregnancy. When the answers to the question about the termination of the previous pregnancy are examined; while 32.0 % stated that they gave birth by cesarean section, 28.0 % stated that they gave birth normally. While seven people (5.8 %) answered incorrectly to the proposition that birth is a normal physiological event before the training, 99.2% of the participants answered correctly at the end of the training. The difference between knowledge levels before and after training is statistically significant (p<0.016). "For the first 6 months, only breast milk is sufficient to feed the baby." While 110 participants (91.7 %) answered correctly to the proposition before the training, the number of people who answered correctly at the end of the training was 119 (99.2 %). The difference is statistically significant (p<0.004). All pregnant women who participated in the study stated that they were satisfied with the training. Conclusion: The welfare level of the households of the pregnant women who participated in our research increases with the increase in the level of education. The general opinion regarding the education given during pregnancy in pregnancy information classes and pregnancy schools and normal birth rates is that this education changes the negative thoughts of expectant mothers about birth, reduces their fear of birth, and at the same time, it becomes easier for them to cope with birth and their active participation in the birth process is ensured. In these trainings, pregnant women are encouraged to have normal birth by explaining that birth is a physiological event, and the aim is to reduce the preference for elective cesarean section. Along with the training, a trusting communication should be established between the educator and the expectant mother in pregnancy information classes and pregnancy schools, and the self-confidence of the expectant mothers should be increased and they should be prepared not only for prenatal and birth but also for the period after birth.