The Level Of Knowledge Of Students Of The Faculty Of Medicine, University Of North Sumatra On The Risk Of Pregnancy With Obesity

Feb 27, 2025 by ADMIN 129 views

The Level of Knowledge of Students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra on the Risk of Pregnancy with Obesity

Introduction

Obesity during pregnancy is a significant concern worldwide, as it can lead to various health risks for both the mother and the baby. In the Asian population, a pregnant woman is considered obese if she has a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more. Weight loss before pregnancy is the best step to reduce the risk of health problems associated with obesity. Even small weight loss can improve overall health, creating conditions for a healthier pregnancy. The increasing number of pregnant women who experience obesity worldwide brings a lot of implications for the reproductive health of the mother and baby. This study aims to assess the level of knowledge of students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra, class of 2018 regarding the risk of pregnancy related to obesity.

The Importance of Understanding the Risk of Pregnancy due to Obesity

Obesity in pregnant women can cause serious complications, including gestational diabetes, hypertension, and more difficult childbirth. Understanding the risk of pregnancy due to obesity is crucial for healthcare professionals, including medical students. With good knowledge, students are expected to play an active role in providing education to the community and becoming agents of change in raising awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy weight before and during pregnancy.

Research Methods

This study uses a descriptive method with a cross-sectional approach. The sample was taken using a non-probability sampling technique through Consecutive Sampling with a number of respondents as many as 72 people. Data was collected using a questionnaire that was distributed online through the Google Form application. The data results are then processed using the SPSS version 25 application, and the analysis is displayed in the form of tables, graphs, and frequency distribution diagrams.

Research Result

From the analysis conducted, it was found that the level of knowledge of students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra about the risk of pregnancy related to obesity was good, with 66 respondents (91.6%) showed good knowledge and 6 respondents (8.4%) with knowledge Enough. This finding shows that the majority of students have an adequate understanding of health risks that may occur due to obesity during pregnancy.

Discussion

The importance of understanding the risk of pregnancy due to obesity cannot be ignored. Obesity in pregnant women can cause serious complications, including gestational diabetes, hypertension, and more difficult childbirth. With good knowledge, students are expected to play an active role in providing education to the community and becoming agents of change in raising awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy weight before and during pregnancy.

This increase in knowledge should also encourage the Faculty of Medicine to include material about obesity and pregnancy in the education curriculum, so that graduates can later become medical personnel who are better prepared in dealing with related cases.

The Role of Medical Students in Reproductive Health Education

Medical students play a crucial role in reproductive health education. With good knowledge, they can provide education to the community and become agents of change in raising awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy weight before and during pregnancy. This can lead to a decrease in the number of obesity in pregnant women, which in turn will improve overall public health.

Conclusion

In general, students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra have a good level of knowledge about the risk of pregnancy related to obesity. This finding reflects the need for sustainable efforts in reproductive health education, so that graduates can have a positive impact on the community in maintaining the health of pregnant women and babies born. With the right knowledge, it is hoped that the number of obesity in pregnant women can decrease, which in turn will improve overall public health.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

The Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra should include material about obesity and pregnancy in the education curriculum, so that graduates can later become medical personnel who are better prepared in dealing with related cases.
Medical students should play an active role in providing education to the community and becoming agents of change in raising awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy weight before and during pregnancy.
The government and health organizations should provide support for reproductive health education and awareness programs, especially for pregnant women who experience obesity.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations, including:

The sample size was relatively small, which may not be representative of the entire population of medical students.
The questionnaire used may not have been comprehensive enough to capture all aspects of knowledge about the risk of pregnancy due to obesity.
The study was conducted in a single university, which may not be representative of other universities or medical schools.

Future Research Directions

Future research should focus on:

Conducting a larger-scale study to assess the level of knowledge of medical students about the risk of pregnancy due to obesity.
Developing a more comprehensive questionnaire to capture all aspects of knowledge about the risk of pregnancy due to obesity.
Conducting a study to assess the effectiveness of reproductive health education and awareness programs in reducing the number of obesity in pregnant women.

References

World Health Organization. (2019). Obesity and overweight.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. (2019). Obesity and pregnancy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2019). Obesity and pregnancy.

Note: The references provided are just examples and should be replaced with actual references used in the study.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Level of Knowledge of Students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra on the Risk of Pregnancy with Obesity

Q: What is the significance of understanding the risk of pregnancy due to obesity?

A: Understanding the risk of pregnancy due to obesity is crucial for healthcare professionals, including medical students. Obesity in pregnant women can cause serious complications, including gestational diabetes, hypertension, and more difficult childbirth.

Q: What is the level of knowledge of students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra about the risk of pregnancy related to obesity?

A: The level of knowledge of students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra about the risk of pregnancy related to obesity was found to be good, with 66 respondents (91.6%) showing good knowledge and 6 respondents (8.4%) with knowledge Enough.

Q: What are the implications of the findings of this study?

A: The findings of this study suggest that medical students have a good level of knowledge about the risk of pregnancy due to obesity. This implies that they can play an active role in providing education to the community and becoming agents of change in raising awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy weight before and during pregnancy.

Q: What are the recommendations of this study?

A: The recommendations of this study include:

The Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra should include material about obesity and pregnancy in the education curriculum, so that graduates can later become medical personnel who are better prepared in dealing with related cases.
Medical students should play an active role in providing education to the community and becoming agents of change in raising awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy weight before and during pregnancy.
The government and health organizations should provide support for reproductive health education and awareness programs, especially for pregnant women who experience obesity.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: The limitations of this study include:

The sample size was relatively small, which may not be representative of the entire population of medical students.
The questionnaire used may not have been comprehensive enough to capture all aspects of knowledge about the risk of pregnancy due to obesity.
The study was conducted in a single university, which may not be representative of other universities or medical schools.

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: Future research should focus on:

Conducting a larger-scale study to assess the level of knowledge of medical students about the risk of pregnancy due to obesity.
Developing a more comprehensive questionnaire to capture all aspects of knowledge about the risk of pregnancy due to obesity.
Conducting a study to assess the effectiveness of reproductive health education and awareness programs in reducing the number of obesity in pregnant women.

Q: What are the implications of the study for public health?

A: The study has implications for public health, as it highlights the importance of reproductive health education and awareness programs in reducing the number of obesity in pregnant women. With the right knowledge, it is hoped that the number of obesity in pregnant women can decrease, which in turn will improve overall public health.

Q: What are the recommendations for healthcare professionals?

A: The recommendations for healthcare professionals include:

Providing education to the community and becoming agents of change in raising awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy weight before and during pregnancy.
Including material about obesity and pregnancy in the education curriculum, so that graduates can later become medical personnel who are better prepared in dealing with related cases.
Providing support for reproductive health education and awareness programs, especially for pregnant women who experience obesity.

Q: What are the recommendations for policymakers?

A: The recommendations for policymakers include:

Providing support for reproductive health education and awareness programs, especially for pregnant women who experience obesity.
Including material about obesity and pregnancy in the education curriculum, so that graduates can later become medical personnel who are better prepared in dealing with related cases.
Conducting a study to assess the effectiveness of reproductive health education and awareness programs in reducing the number of obesity in pregnant women.