Title : Knowledge of obstetric danger signs among women attending antenatal clinic in selected primary health centers in Alimosho local government area, Lagos state, Nigeria
Abstract:
Maternal morbidity and mortality are still major health issues, and pregnancy can present obstetric risks if not well handled. Direct obstetric problems such as infection, bleeding, and pregnancy-induced hypertension account for 80% of maternal deaths. One of the causes of the high maternal mortality rate is mothers' inability to recognize these warning indicators. Early detection of these warning indicators is therefore crucial to prevent delays in seeking medical attention, which is the second leading cause of maternal death. This study assessed the knowledge of obstetric danger signs among women attending Antenatal Clinic in Primary Health Centers in Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos State. It employed a quantitative cross-sectional design where a sample size of 200 antenatal women were selected using multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed using EPI Info statistical software version 7, and then presented on tables using frequencies and percentages. Chi-square was used to test for inferential statistics. All questionnaires administered were retrieved. The findings of this study revealed that 114(57%) of the respondents portrayed overall poor knowledge about obstetric danger signs while 86(43.0%) showed good knowledge of obstetric danger signs. With regards to the source of information on obstetric dangers, 98(49.0%) of the respondents had read about them, while 102(51.0%) have never. Moreover, 131(65.5%) of the women accepted to have been educated on obstetric danger signs by their health care provider while 69(34.5%) claimed they were not. Among the symptoms that could indicate an obstetric danger, most of the respondents agreed that vaginal bleeding is a danger sign before delivery 102(51.0%), during delivery 140(70.0%) and after delivery 104(52.0%). Other symptoms recognized as dangerous by the women before delivery include severe unusual abdominal pain 80(40.0%), premature onset of contraction 62(36.0%) and loss of fetal movement 71(35.5%) while during delivery, some of the respondents recognized convulsion 122(61.0%) and prolonged labor 99(49.5%) and during the postpartum period, about two-fifth of the respondents recognized difficulty in breathing 80(40.0%) and loss of consciousness 79(39.5%) as danger signs after childbirth. Furthermore, this study revealed a significant connection between the knowledge of obstetric danger signs and the educational level of women attending Antenatal Clinic. The overall knowledge about obstetric danger signs is still unacceptably poor. Higher level of education improved the knowledge about obstetric danger signs. This shows that in order to help with early detection and treatment of warning symptoms, it is necessary to consistently raise awareness and provide orientation regarding obstetric danger signs to women as well as to their family members and support systems.
