Knowledge of obstetric danger signs and associated factors among pregnant women in Wolaita Sodo town, South Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Obstetric complications continue to be the major causes of maternal mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Knowledge of women toward obstetric danger signs is an important part of improving maternal and fetal outcomes. However, the reported level of knowledge on obstetric danger signs is low and inconsistent. Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study design was used. Data were collected from randomly selected 740 pregnant women. A pregnant woman said to have good knowledge of obstetric danger signs if she spontaneously mentioned at least two of the danger signs during each of the three periods (pregnancy, labor/childbirth, and postpartum) and otherwise said to have poor knowledge of obstetric danger signs. Adjusted odds ratio at 95% confidence interval and a value of p < 0.05 were used to identify the predictors. Results: A total of 740 pregnant women participated in the study with the response rate of 97.5%. One hundred twenty-four (16.8%) of the respondents were knowledgeable about obstetric danger signs. According to our study, age range of 20–24 years (adjusted odds ratio = 6, confidence interval: 2.67–17.44) and 25–29 years old (adjusted odds ratio = 2.4, confidence interval: 1.14–5.10); being housewife (adjusted odds ratio = 0.5, confidence interval: 0.28–0.87); monthly income of ⩽1000ETB (adjusted odds ratio = 0.24, confidence interval: 0.12–0.46) and 1001-2500ETB (adjusted odds ratio = 0.24, confidence interval: 0.12–0.47); and primigravida (adjusted odds ratio = 0.09, confidence interval: 0.04–0.18) and primipara (adjusted odds ratio = 0.15, confidence interval: 0.07–0.30) were factors significantly associated with knowledge of obstetric danger signs. Conclusion: Knowledge of obstetric danger signs among pregnant women was low. Maternal age, average monthly income, maternal occupation, parity, and gravidity were factors significantly associated with the knowledge of obstetric danger signs.

Pregnant woman’s knowledge to the danger signs of pregnancy

“…These kinds of danger signs need to be known by pregnant women from the beginning of pregnancy (Chowdhury & Chakraborty, 2017). This is in line with Bolanko et al (2021), stated that in her research, among respondents had awareness about the danger signs of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.…”

“…f. Economy Economy is a large set of interrelated production and consumption activities that help in determining how resources are. Women with low monthly income, have little knowledge about the danger signs of obstetrics compared to women who have a high monthly income, similarly pregnant women with low monthly incomes then have more potential to have less knowledge of the danger signs of pregnancy, and vice versa (Bolanko et al, 2021). In low-income communities such as Indians tend to have the lack of good knowledge, because they are prioritized by needs and to travel to health facilities tend to be less interested (Jungari, 2020)…”

Self-Medication and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in Rural Ethiopia: The Importance of Husband Education in Ensuring a Safe Pregnancy

“…34 , 35 A study in South Ethiopia also found primigravida women to be less prepared for pregnancy complications and less knowledgeable of pregnancy danger signs, indicating the gap between multigravida and primigravida mothers. 36 In addition, pregnant women who know their gestational age were 50% less likely to practice self-medication. Pregnant women who know their gestational age are more likely to be alert and their pregnancy is more likely to be planned.…”

Factores asociados al nivel de conocimiento y actitudes sobre signos y síntomas de alarma en gestantes atendidas por teleconsulta en el Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal durante el año 2020

“…En cambio, en el análisis multivariado, solo las variables: paciente añosa (RP 0,95, IC95% 0,91-0,99, p=0,027) y gestaciones previas (RP 0,73, IC95% 0,69-0,78, p<0,001) fueron estadísticamente significativas. En diversos estudios realizados en África [15][16][17] , se aprecia similar asociación, pues las mujeres con embarazos previos, siendo estas multigestas o multíparas, son siempre quienes tienen un mayor conocimiento y, por ende, una mejor actitud. Esto puede deberse a que han experimentado alguna complicación previa que convierte esa experiencia en conocimiento.…”