Occupational Medicine & Health Affairs
Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: Eugenics refers to the methods that are adopted by eligible couples for having physically and psychologically healthy conception and pregnancy. Objectives: To assess and compare the knowledge, attitude and expressed practice regarding eugenics among husbands and wives and to determine the relationship between knowledge, attitude and expressed practices of husbands and wives and seek relationship between knowledge, attitude and expressed practices of husbands and wives with selected demographic variables. Methodology: A quantitative non-experimental approach with descriptive comparative design was adopted and total 636 adults in reproductive age group with husbands (n=318) and wives (n=318) were selected by purposive sampling techniques who were residing at selected area of north India. Structured knowledge questionnaire, structured 5-point attitude scale and expressed practices checklist were used to collect data. Results: More number of husbands (61.94%) had below average knowledge as compare to wives (45.28%). Majority of husbands (97.79%) and wives (95.91%) had moderately favorable attitude towards eugenics whereas only 2.20% of husbands and 4.08% of wives had favorable attitude. More than half (59.25%) of husbands and 67.90% of wives followed non-traditional expressed practices regarding eugenics. There was a significant difference in the knowledge, attitude and expressed practices of husbands and wives regarding eugenics (P≤0.000). There was a significant moderate positive correlation between knowledge and attitude of husbands (r=0.371, P≤0.000) and wives (r=0.370, P≤0.000). There was a weak negative correlation between attitude and expressed practices scores of wives regarding eugenics (r=-0.176, P≤0.003). The knowledge, attitude and expressed practices scores of husbands and wives were dependent on age, educational status and source of information regarding conception and pregnancy. Recommendations: Study recommends educational intervention programs to enhance the knowledge, attitude and expressed practices of eligible couples towards eugenics to enhance the mother and child health status. References 1.Hamdard N and Haneef A (2017) Comparison of Awareness of Men and Women on Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health in Urban Afghanistan. Community and Public Health Nursing J.; 3(1): 1-3. 2.Gautam P, Dhakal R (2016) Knowledge on Preconception Care among Reproductive age Women. Saudi Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences; 1: 1-6. 3.Okka B, Durduran Y, Deerli Kodaz N (2016) Traditional practices of Konya women during pregnancy, birth, the postpartum period, and newborn care. Turkish J Med Sci.; 46(2): 501-11. 4.Mitchell E W, Levis D M, Prue C E (2012) Preconception Health : Awareness, Planning and Communication among a Sample of US Men and Women. Maternal and Child Health Journal; 16: 31-9.

Biography

Hemlata is a Graduate Nurse and presently an MSc Nursing student in Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing Specialty at Maharishi Markandeshwar University, India. Her research interest is in maternal and reproductive health.