Perception of Early Pregnancy Symptoms among Antenatal Women in Port Harcourt, Southern Nigeria | Chapter 05 | Innovations in Medicine and Medical Research Vol. 1
Background:
Early pregnancy symptoms are commonly experienced by most women during
pregnancy. While some such as missed periods may serve as an early warning
symptom, others may be troublesome, necessitating treatment, and even hospital
admission.
Objective:
The main objective of this study is to determine the pattern of early pregnancy
symptoms among pregnant women in Port Harcourt, Southern Nigeria. Specifically,
it would determine the type of symptoms, the period of onset, climax, and when
they subside. It would also determine the recurrence rate and the maternal
effects in the index pregnancy.
Materials
and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study
of 616 booked pregnant women who attended antenatal care at the department of
obstetrics and gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, from
February 2015 to January 2016. The patients were educated about early pregnancy
symptoms, and relevant questions and concerns were addressed. Verbal consent was obtained from those who
agreed to participate; a structured questionnaire was then distributed among
the participants, which was filled and data were analyzed.
Results:
The prevalence rate for early pregnancy symptoms was very high 89.6%, the
symptoms were commoner among primigravid women 208(33.8%) and they tend to
reduce significantly with increasing parity. The recurrent rate among parous
women was high 82.6%.
The mean gestational age at onset of
symptoms was 4.06 ± 1.64 weeks and by eight weeks, about 87% of the women have
developed pregnancy symptoms. The symptoms were perceived to be worse between 5
and eight weeks, with a mean of 7.20 ± 2.15 weeks and they started to subside
by 9 – 12 weeks, with a mean of 14.06 ± 3.85 weeks.
Amenorrhoea was the commonest symptom
98.6%, followed by nausea and vomiting 52.3%, then breast pain and heaviness
52.3%, low back pain 45.3% and urinary symptoms 36.4%. Pregnancy symptoms
interfered very little with professional and domestic activities, and the
hospital admission rate was quite low 8.4%.
Conclusion:
Women hardly go through pregnancy without experiencing multiple pregnancy
symptoms. The prevalence rate was high, especially among Primigravidas and
symptoms tend to be recurrent among multiparous women. Pregnancy symptoms tend
to peak around 5 – 8 weeks and begin to subside by 9 -12 weeks.
Author(s) Details
Ikobho Ebenezer Howells
Department of Obstetrics and
Gynaecology, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
Isaac Joel Abasi
Department of Obstetrics and
Gynaecology, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
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