Antenatal education for pregnant women attending maternal and child health clinics in Brunei Darussalam

Abstract

Background: Antenatal education is an essential component of antenatal care that prepares and facilitates the acquisition of women's skills and confidence required for positive experiences throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.

Aim: To evaluate pregnant women's experiences of education during the antenatal period in Brunei Darussalam.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a pre-designed instrument to examine the provision of antenatal education among 110 pregnant women attending two major Maternal and Child Health Clinics in Brunei Darussalam. The quantitative data was analysed descriptively whereby the scores of each scale was calculated and reported accordingly.

Findings: A majority of participants possess good health knowledge and live a healthy lifestyle. They have a positive perception about baby and postnatal care. However, participants only possess average knowledge about practical health techniques.

Discussion: Overall, the majority of women were satisfied with the antenatal education provided in the Maternal and Child Health Clinics in Brunei Darussalam. Good rapport and interactive learning were the two most quoted important characteristics in antenatal education classes. Breastfeeding, which required both practical knowledge and the acquisition of skills was found to be the most interesting antenatal education topic. Antenatal education provided through verbal information was identified as the least interesting to the women.

Conclusion: This first study, which aimed to evaluate antenatal education in Brunei Darussalam could provide baseline data and guide strategies to engage pregnant women and relevant agencies in antenatal education. Future studies involving a more in-depth exploration of the women's experiences are recommended.

Keywords: Antenatal Education; Childbirth Education; Health Services; Maternal; Women.