PREGNANT MOTHER’S BEHAVIOR IN THEIR FIRST PREGNANCY EXAMINING IN THE WORKING AREA OF JUMPANDANG BARU HEALTH CENTER, MAKASSAR CITY

Abstract

Antenatal Care (ANC) has a very important role, including to be able to do the early detection and management of complications that may arise during labor. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that pregnant women start contacting the first ANC treatment in the first trimester of pregnancy. This study aims to determine the behavior of pregnant women in their first pregnancy check-up in the working area of Jumpandang Baru Health Center, Makassar City and also to identify other factors that influence these behaviors. This study used qualitative methods with a phenomenological approach (based on life experience). The main informant of this study is the pregnant women who were in the working area of Puskesmas Jumpandang Baru, Kota Makassar which amounts to seven people and a key informant namely the ANC Responsible Midwife at Jumpandang Baru Health Center, Makassar City. Data collection technique of this study conducted through interviews with informants using interview guidelines. The results of the study showed that from seveninformants, five informants examined their pregnancies early and two others examined their pregnancies after going through their first trimester of gestation. The behavior of informants in their early pregnancy was supported by good knowledge and attitudes about the importance of the early pregnancy check-up. The existence of motivation and support from the family as well as good service and attitudes of the officers are the factors that influence this behavior. Maternal behavior in checking pregnancy earlier can also be hampered due to lack of knowledge and attitudes regarding the importance of early pregnancy check-up, unexpected pregnancies and the late handling of Health Bureaucracies.
Keywords : antenatal care, early pregnancy check-up