Incidence and Self-Care of Nausea and Vomiting Among Pregnant Women Attending a Maternal Clinic

Nausea and vomiting (NVP) of pregnancy are common among women. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and the self- care measures adopted by women attending a maternal clinic.  A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out utilizing an interviewer-administered questionnaire to consenting pregnant women attending the maternal clinic of Central Hospital, Agbor; Delta state – Nigeria.  Of the 521 gravid women included in the study, 221 (42.4%) were within the age group of 27 and 32 years and had secondary level of education 238(45.7%).The mean gravidity of the participants was 2.68±1.54, mean gestational age at the time of the study was 24.68 weeks ± 7.40 and the mean gestational age at which nausea and vomiting were observed, and was 6.30 weeks ± 3.82. Three hundred and fifteen (60.5%) of the women experienced the symptoms of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Taking “bitterkola” (Garcinia kola) (22.9%) either alone or in combination with other substances was the most frequently occurring measure to control nausea and vomiting. Other measures taken included taking “native chalk” (18.8%), Ginger (5.6%) bitter leaves (Amygdala vernonia) (7.6%), fruits (19.9%), chewing gum (4.7%), taking sweets (9.4%), taking drugs (3.7%) and  rest (4.7%).Over 20% of the study population with nausea and vomiting opined that nausea and vomiting had a negative impact on their lives; however only 7.5%  are discouraged from getting pregnant as a result of nausea and vomiting. Use of self-care measures was associated with educational level of the respondents (P=0.004).  The rate of nausea and vomiting was high in the studied participants and Bitterkola (Garcinia kola) was the most commonly used agent for its prevention. The respondents who experienced nausea and vomiting reported its huge negative impact on their lives.