Awareness and Health Care Practice of Mothers’ About Obstetric Danger Signs at Haramaya District, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract:Mother's awareness of potential obstetric danger signs during pregnancy, child birth and immediate post-delivery are crucial to influence their decisions to seek immediate health care. However, their awareness and health care practice were not well known in Haramaya district. Thus, this study was to assess mother's awareness of obstetric danger signs and their health care seeking practice. Community based cross sectional study was conducted in June, 2012 on 757 mothers who gave birth for the last two years and reside in Haramaya District. Sample size was estimated by using a single population proportions formula. Multistage sampling method was used to select study subjects. Data was collected by interview using structured questionnaires. Bivariate and multivariate were used to analyze predictors. Results: Only 86 (11.3%) of respondents mentioned three and above key obstetric danger signs during pregnancy. About half of 402(53%) of respondents did not aware for at least one obstetric danger signs. 234 (31%) respondents were reported to have experienced one or more key danger signs but 31.2% of them did not sought for medical treatment. Mothers who followed primary education 2.7 times [AOR 2.7; 95% CI 1.5-7.2], and secondary and above education 2.4 times [AOR 2.4; 95% CI 1.3-5.4] more likely to have awareness on obstetric danger signs during pregnancy as compared to those didn't attained formal education. Mothers who attended antenatal care were 4.28 times [AOR 4.28; 95% CI 2.01-9.12] more likely of having awareness on obstetric danger sign than mother who did not attended ANC. Similarly, the odds of giving birth at health institutions increased the level of awareness about obstetric danger signs about three fold [AOR 3.23;] than those who giving birth at home. Conclusion: Awareness of mothers on obstetric danger signs in the study area and health seeking practice were low. Thus, community education and information during antenatal Care utilization, institutional delivery services and postnatal care about obstetric danger signs and its consequence if the mother will not seeking care are important steps in improving the awareness and health seeking practice.

Knowledge of danger signs of pregnancy and health-seeking action among pregnant women: a health facility-based cross-sectional study

“…Mothers who had primary, secondary, and above educational levels were 4.85 and 6.90 times more likely to have good knowledge of the danger signs of pregnancy. This finding is consistent with other studies conducted in different parts of Ethiopia and other countries 7 , 9 , 12 , 16 , 21 , 27 , 39 , 48 , 51 – 53 . Education gives the impression to play a positive role in increasing the knowledge of women about danger signs during pregnancy and its complications 54 .…”

“…While less than one-third of the pregnant women identified abnormal body movement (30.90%), abnormal vaginal discharge (29.20%), the difficulty of breathing (28.70%), and loss of consciousness (25.40%) as the danger signs of pregnancy. This finding is consistent with other studies conducted in different parts of Ethiopia and other countries 7 , 9 – 11 , 13 , 17 , 40 , 47 . This indicates that more than half of pregnant women may know at least one or more danger signs of pregnancy, while the remaining even may not be known one danger sign of pregnancy.…”

“…It was also nearly similar to a study done in Ghana (55.1%) 31 . However, it was higher than the studies conducted in different parts of Ethiopia, which ranged from 7.9 to 46.7% 7 , 9 , 11 , 13 , 15 , 21 , 22 , 26 , 27 , 40 – 43 . The possible explanation for this discrepancy might be the study sitting.…”

“…Studies conducted in different countries revealed maternal and husband education level, occupation, maternal age, residency, parity, gravidity, family size, family income, decision-making power, number of ANC follow-ups, the timing of starting ANC visits, place of delivery, sources of information about obstetric danger signs and distance to health facility were some of the predictors of mothers’ knowledge of obstetrics danger signs of pregnancy 7 , 9 , 11 , 12 , 15 – 17 , 22 . The new United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) have three main targets, which are likely to reduce the maternal mortality rate below 70 deaths per 100 000 live births, the number of neonatal mortalities to 12 per 1000 live births, and the number of the death rate among under-5-year children by 25 per 1000 live births 23 .…”

Perceived acceptability of an inhaled oxytocin for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage in Ethiopia

“…This finding is supported by previous research in Ethiopia showing that bleeding during childbirth is one of the most commonly known danger signs amongst community members. [25][26][27] The existing concern for the gravity of PPH will likely improve acceptability of an innovation for PPH prevention, as previous reviews have shown that adoption of a novel product or program is facilitated if it addresses an issue that is experienced or prioritised by adopting stakeholders. 28,29 Further, amongst healthcare providers, there was a recognition that oxytocin is the gold standard drug for PPH prevention, thus an inhaled oxytocin product may be acceptable to these stakeholders when compared to a completely novel drug molecule.…”