Pregnancy and Hygiene: Current Perspectives on Infection Prevention and Safe Motherhood

Original Research | 2026 | Volume 1 | Issue 2 | Page 52-57

Firoja Parvin, PhD Scholar, Department of English, University of North Bengal, West Bengal, India

Pregnancy and Hygiene: Current Perspectives on Infection Prevention and Safe Motherhood.

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Abstract

Pregnancy is a condition which is characterized by hormonal, anatomically, and immunological alterations that may enhance the risk of acquired infection. In spite of all efforts, maternal infections still cause a high incidence of maternal and neonatal deaths and mortality throughout the world. Also they can lead to poor fetal growth and neonatal survival. Hygiene practices are simple, cost-effective, and important preventive strategies to reduce infection and promote safe motherhood. In this narrative review the importance of hygiene during pregnancy will be discussed including personal hygiene, hand hygiene, oral hygiene, food hygiene, environmental sanitation, and infection control measures used to prevent health-associated infections. Current data indicate that improved hygiene behaviors may reduce maternal and neonatal infection as well as improving pregnancy outcomes. Improvement of hygiene education in antenatal care settings and adequate access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities is a major challenge for public health.

Keywords: pregnancy, hygiene, infection prevention, safe motherhood, antenatal care.