PERCEIVED RISK AND ABILITIES FOR HEALTH PRACTICES RELATED TO PREVENTION OF TYPE II DIABETES MELLITUS AMONG POSTNATAL MOTHERS WITH GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Objectives: The study is aimed to assess the perceived risk and abilities for health practices related to prevention of Type II diabetes mellitus (DM) among postnatal mothers with gestational DM (GDM).Methods: This is a descriptive study involving 60 postnatal mothers at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi. Non-probability convenience sampling technique was used for the study, data collected through semi-structured questionnaire, risk perception survey for developing diabetes is used to assess the perceived risks and self-rated abilities for health practice scale is used to assess abilities for health practices.Result: Most of the postnatal mothers 55% with GDM had an average personal control and 53% of postnatal mother with GDM were high optimistic that they will not develop Type II DM. In case of diabetes risk knowledge, more than half of the mothers 54% with GDM had average perception. Based on health practices, majority of the postnatal mothers 63 % with GDM have average abilities for health practices related to prevention of Type II DM.Conclusion: Strategies should be designed to care for the postnatal mothers with GDM such as early detection and postpartum screening are mandatory to detect future DM.