The role of the media in the perspective of pregnant women on oral glucose tolerance test by socioeconomic level in primary health care

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is carbohydrate intolerance which occurs in the second or third trimester of pregnancy in pregnant women who were not diagnosed with diabetes before pregnancy. GDM is the most frequent complication in pregnancy and its prevalence is increasing. There are many researches in the literature suggesting that maternal, fetal and neonate complications increase in the presence of GDM. Therefore, all medical disciplines and guidelines regarding the subject recommend that all pregnant women between 24-28th weeks of gestation should be screened for GDM by applying Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Through the early diagnosis, appropriate treatment and postpartum follow-up of the disease, it has been shown that there is a decrease in morbidity and mortality in mother and baby. In our country, an expectant mother is required to be followed up in Family Medicine at least four times throughout her pregnancy within the scope of the monitoring protocol of the Ministry of Health. In this context, in Primary Health Care Services which is the most important center to reach pregnant women, to determine the rate of OGTT according to socioeconomic level in pregnant women followed up by family physicians and to determine by which physician the pregnant women are informed about the test, to specify the factors in not having this test and to question the role of media in this matter is aimed. This research was conducted by figuring the sample range among the patients who applied to the Family Practises in Çankaya district of Ankara between 01.09.2019 and 01.09.2020 and met the inclusion criteria, and taking voluntary informed consent forms from 334 pregnant women. In this study, it was determined that when having not been informed about OGTT by Family Practice, through the negative effect of the media the pregnant women with low socioeconomic status either do not want to have this test or are hesitant to have this test. It is aimed to contribute to the methods that can be applied in raising the awareness of pregnant women by determining patient information about OGTT in primary care and determining other factors affecting pregnant women.