Health Education Needs of First Visit Pregnant Women in Antenatal Clinics in Khayelitsha, South Africa

Health education is a key component of first antenatal visits. The aim of this study was to describe the health education needs of pregnant women on their first visit to antenatal clinics in Khayelitsha, South Africa. A quantitative descriptive survey was conducted, to investigate the lifestyle, pregnancy-related, psycho-social health education needs and predictors of health education needs during pregnant women’s first antenatal clinic visit. The research was conducted at two purposively selected antenatal clinics in Khayelitsha, a low-income suburb in Cape Town, South Africa. The respondents were considered eligible for the study if they were Xhosa speaking, pregnant, older than 18 years, making a first visit to antenatal care, and able to complete their consent form or provide consent from parents or relatives. Respondents were eligible for the study regardless of the number of pregnancies they had previously had, their age and previous medical conditions. There were a total of 240 (92%) respondents. Overall pregnancy-related health education needs were rated the highest (m=4.0, [95%CI3.95–4.09]), with information on how the baby grows and develops during pregnancy (m=4.6, [95%CI4.5–4.7]) the highest. The lowest rated health information needs were testing for HIV and prevention thereof (m=3.5, [95%CI3.3–3.7]) and how to use seat belts during pregnancy (m=3.2, [95%CI3.0–3.4]). A lack of awareness of the duration of pregnancy predicted significantly higher overall health education needs and lifestyle education needs. The study recommends that pregnant women should be provided with prioritised health information during their first antenatal visit, especially given the high risk of late bookings for first antenatal visits.