Self-care behaviors among Thai primigravida teenagers

• Published in: Global journal of health science 2012-04, Vol.4 (3), p.139-147
• Main Authors: Panthumas, Suphawadee, Kittipichai, Wirin, Pitikultang, Supachai, Chamroonsawasdi, Kanittha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Female; Gravidity; Health Behavior; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - prevention & control; Self Care - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Thailand; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1916-9736; 1916-9744
• DOI: 10.5539/gjhs.v4n3p139

The purpose of this study was to investigate predictive factors of the self-care behaviors among Thai teenagers with primigravida. The samples of 206 primigravida teenagers attending ANC clinics of six hospitals in the North-Eastern region of Thailand were included. Data collection was done through self administered-questionnaire. Scales of the questionnaire had reliability coefficients ranging from 0.72 - 0.92. The data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that the percentage-mean score of overall self-care behavior was 76.91. The percentage-mean scores of self-care behaviors in specific trimester were found that the score in the second trimester was lower than the scores in the first and third trimesters (57.58, 60.45, and 64.65, respectively). Factors associated with overall self-care behavior were perceived self-efficacy, perceived social support from family, knowledge on self-care during pregnancy, accessibility to health services, self-esteem and age (r = 0.47, 0.34, 0.28, 0.24, 0.19, and 0.15, respectively). Perceived self-efficacy and knowledge on self-care during pregnancy were the two considerable predictors accounted for 25% of the variance in the self-care behaviors of Thai teenagers with primigravida.