COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING

PRE-PREGNANCY CARE BY GROUP 1

 GOOD MATERNAL CARE IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THE OPTIMAL HEALTH OF THE MOTHER AND CHILD. THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA (2002) ASSERTS THAT AN INDIVIDUALS
HEALTH FROM CONCEPTION AND EARLY LIFE HAS IMPACT ON THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE LATER.

HENCE, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO PROVIDE GOOD MONITORING ON FETAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

THE COMPONENT OF MATERNAL CARE IN COMMUNITY NURSING ENCOMPASSES PRE-PREGNANCY, PREGNANCY, INTRA-PARTUM AND POSTNATAL CARE.

The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) has given great attention to MCH services. Reproductive women and children are the most vulnerable populations. Proper and adequate care and supervision are rendered to obtain optimum health among mothers and children. The following are the reasons why MCH is given to them: The services is focused on pregnant mothers and children because they are exposed to risks and more likely to be infected by disease.

Mortality rate of mothers and children is a key indicator towards the health status of a community and social-economic status, as well as the biological development of the fetus. Mothers will experience critical stages, for example during conception;mothers will be exposed to risks such as exposure to radiation (e.g. x-rays).
Pregnant mothers infected with rubella will causes congenital rubella syndrome.

Drug abuse will cause deformities of the fetus, in view of these factors, the MCH service should be strengthened to ensure mothers and children are safe within the critical period. We shall begin with the service given during pre-pregnancy.

Pre-pregnancy care plays an important role to help mothers plan for their pregnancy, in order to reduce morbidity and mortality of mothers and their infants during the prenatal stage. Pre-pregnancy care is given to women aged 15-49 years. Community nurses are required to perform the following measures to prepare mothers to enter pregnancy with the optimal state of health:
To determine all couples plan their parenthood, advising them to be physically and mentally prepared, with a stable economy to ensure a healthy mother and baby

To assess all women under reproductive age(15-49 years), who have planned to conceive, in terms of health status(e.g. screening procedures such as STD,HIV and other risk factors). Plan and implement promotional activities to create awareness of womens health. To refer women with abnormalities and risk factors to the family health officer or hospital for further management when necessary.

To give health education or counseling to women and spouse on: the need to take supplementary vitamins like folic acid at least 3 months before pregnancy and for first trimester to prevent anencephaly and spinal bifida. To visit clinic immediately after absent of menstrual period (amenorrhea). Space pregnancy (e.g. at least 2 year interval) Explain the prevention and treatment of STD.

To explain screening test (e.g. cardiac disease and thalassemia). When women are well prepared for their pregnancy, they will be able to enter antenatal care with optimum health status. In the subsequent topic we will be exploring the antenatal care given to mother in are health clinic. First of all we will explore the objectives of ante-natal care.

1. EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSES IN PRE-PREGNANCY CARE.