Are Pregnant Women in Rural Areas Aware of Birth Preparedness? Evidence from a Rural Maternity Hospital in South Karnataka

Autor: Avita Rose Johnson, Shweta Ajay, H. N. Swathi
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Medical Sciences and Health, Vol 7, Iss 1, Pp 25-31 (2021)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2394-9481
2394-949X
DOI: 10.46347/jmsh.2021.v07i01.005
Popis: Background: Birth-preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) is an evidence based strategy to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality. This study aims to assess awareness of BPCR and its determinants among pregnant women in a rural area of Ramanagara district, Karnataka, South India. Materials and Methods : A cross-sectional hospital-based study among pregnant women availing antenatal care, using the interview schedule from Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynaecology and Obstetrics BPCR Tools and Indicators for Maternal and Newborn Health, with 41 items of BPCR awareness scored one for each correct response. Statistical analysis was performed using independent t-test, One-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and multi-logistic regression. Results The 331 pregnant women had low mean BPCR awareness score of 9.46 ± 3.61. Commonly mentioned obstetric danger signs were vaginal bleeding, severe weakness, and headache. BPCR awareness was significantly higher among multi-gravidae (P < 0.001), those with previous bad obstetric history (P = 0.002) or complications in the previous pregnancy (P = 0.031), those who registered their pregnancy early (P = 0.018) and those with four or more antenatal check-ups (P = 0.006). Multi-gravid mothers were twice more likely to have higher BPCR awareness than primigravidae. (Odds ratio = 2.41 [1.49–3.34], P < 0.001). Conclusions: Awareness of birth preparedness and obstetric danger signs among women in our study was found to be low. None of the women were aware regarding identifying a blood donor in advance in spite of vaginal bleeding being the most commonly cited danger sign. This study reveals an urgent need to address the lack of awareness of BPCR among rural women during routine antenatal visits or by community-level workers during home visits.
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