الفهرس 
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Abstract
Pregnancy in the woman’s life is a period that poses many new challenges and possible problems. How she responds to these challenges is dependent on her emotional maturity or lack of it. These changes that occur in the pregnant woman’s body are caused by several factors. Physiological factors during pregnancy in the cardiovascular, respiratory and immune systems may also increase the woman’s risk factor to infection Moreira (2009)
Pregnant women who infect with swine flu are four times more likely to develop severe illness that requires hospitalization than other people infected with the virus. For some pregnant women, illness might progress rapidly, and might be complicated by secondary bacterial infections including pneumonia. Fetal distress associated with severe maternal illness can occur, had higher rates of stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, and premature birth Stock et al.,(2009).
The present study aimed at assessing knowledge and practices of pregnant women regarding preventive measures of swine flu. To achieve the study objective, a descriptive study had been implemented at antenatal clinic of Ain Shams Maternity University Hospital.
A simple random sampling technique was used through “blinded tossing technique” after recording all cases admitted to the clinic in the register book the researcher give a number for each pregnant women in a separate paper and put them in a box then clinic secretary select one of them consequently. This technique followed for daily data collection till the completion of sample size 280 pregnant women.
Data collection has been carried out through out the period from the beginning of October 2009 till the end of March 2010. It has been done through interviewing questionnaire named pregnant woman’s knowledge and practices regarding preventive measures of swine flu questionnaire sheet to assess pregnant woman’s knowledge (e.g. definition, causes, signs &symptoms, methods of transmission, etc). In addition to assessment of pregnant women’s practices regarding preventive measures of swine flu as reported by them.
The present study revealed that:
• Regarding pregnant women’s age, 71.4% of them their age ranged between 20 to 30 years. As regard their place of residence 85% of them from urban area. On other hand, 46.4% of pregnant women had secondary education. Meanwhile, 98.6% of them were married. Concerning to the working status 84.3% of pregnant women hadn’t work. Moreover, 75.7% of the studied sample was multigravida.
• The study revealed that 43.6% of pregnant women were in the third trimester. Concerning to antenatal regular follow up only 6.4% of pregnant women had irregular follow up. The highest cause of irregular follow up was outreaching the clinic that represented 44.4%. Moreover, 85.7%, 7.9%, and 6.4% of pregnant women’s source of information regarding swine flu infection were mass media, medical team, and friends & family respectively.
• As regards pregnant women knowledge, 65.3% of pregnant women had incorrect knowledge regarding swine flu. While, 34.7% of them have incomplete knowledge regarding swine flu.
• Concerning pregnant women practice 62.1% of pregnant women not done preventive measures regarding swine flu infection. Meanwhile, 34.3% of pregnant women incompletely practice preventive measures regarding swine flu infection. Only, 3.6% of pregnant women completely practice preventive measures regarding swine flu infection.
• There was a significant association between the pregnant women age, infection associated with current pregnancy, living condition, and their practices of preventive measures regarding swine flu infection.
• There was a significant association between the pregnant women age, health problems associated with previous pregnancy, infection associated with current pregnancy and their preventive knowledge regarding swine flu infection.
• There is moderate positive correlation between pregnant women knowledge and practices regarding preventive measures against swine flu infection.
In conclusion, the study revealed that pregnant women had low level of preventive knowledge regarding swine flu infection. Moreover, most of the pregnant women did not performed preventive measures regarding swine flu infection. Meanwhile, there was a moderate correlation between pregnant women preventive knowledge and their practices regarding swine flu infection. Based on this finding, the researcher recommended; conduction of awareness secessions at outpatient clinics and developing simple awareness material to improve pregnant women’s preventive knowledge and practice regarding swine flu infection. Further researches are still need to explore the barriers that confront implementation of the preventive measures against swine flu infection among pregnant women.