The extent of practicing healthy behavior among pregnant women in Al - Nadrah Directorate

Abstract

The current research aims to identify the level of health behavior practice among pregnant women in the Al-Nadirah District, and the differences in health behavior practice according to the variables (educational level, number of pregnancies, income level, age), The sample included (136) pregnant women, selected using simple random sampling from centers and villages in the district. The Health Behavior Scale (prepared by the researcher) was used. The results indicated that: the level of health behavior practice among the research sample was low, with a sample mean of (94.71) compared to the scale's hypothetical mean of (102), and there were statistically significant differences towards the hypothetical mean, Additionally, there were statistically significant differences according to the educational level variable in the areas of physical activity (exercise), medical visits, and medical vaccines, favoring those with a "read and write" educational level, However, no statistically significant differences were found according to the variable of number of pregnancies, Statistically significant differences were found according to the income level variable in the total score and the areas of (healthy nutrition, physical activity, and medical visits), favoring those with a medium income level, while differences in the area of medical visits favored those with a high income level, Regarding the age variable, there were statistically significant differences in health behavior in the area of physical activity (physical exercises) favoring the age group (20-25 years), with no differences found in the remaining areas and the total score