American Journal of Health Research

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Knowledge of Obstetric Danger Signs Among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Communities in Enugu State, Nigeria

Received: 26 November 2015    Accepted: 06 December 2015    Published: 22 December 2015
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Abstract

Background: Lack of knowledge of obstetric danger signs, resulting in inability to recognize and probably react to the needs for accessing quality health care remains a major cause of preventable maternal deaths. Objective: To determine the knowledge of obstetric danger signs and its determinants amongst women of reproductive age in rural communities in Nigeria. Materials and methods: A total of 602 women of child bearing age were studied. Data collection employed a pretested, self-administered structured questionnaire and was analysed using statistical package for social sciences version 17. Bivariate analysis was done to identify factors associated with good levels of knowledge of danger signs. Logistic regression was used to identify determinants of a high knowledge score among women. A p value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Results were presented in tables and summary indices. Results: Majority of respondents had a poor level of knowledge of obstetric danger signs 286(47.5%). The most mentioned symptom was vaginal bleeding; 358(59.5%). Factors associated with knowledge of obstetric danger signs include: age (p=0.000), marital status (p=0.000), educational level attained (p=0.049) and parity (p=0.000). Attaining tertiary level of education (OR: 3.906), teaching profession (OR: 15.104) self-employed business engagement (OR: 16.144) and a high level of knowledge of disease causation (OR: 3.336) were predictors of the level of knowledge of danger signs among them. Conclusion: We recommend that effective and sustained health education and behavioral change programs with high local content be instituted in our rural communities.

DOI 10.11648/j.ajhr.20150306.20
Published in American Journal of Health Research (Volume 3, Issue 6, November 2015)
Page(s) 376-380
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Enugu, Obstetric Danger Signs, Rural Women, Knowledge, Predictors

References
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[4] Berg C, Danel I, Zane S, Bartlett L, eds. Strategies to reduce pregnancy- related deaths: from identification and review to action. Atlanta, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention; 2001; 45–7. In: Bullough C, Meda N, Makowiecka K, Ronsmans C, Achadi E, Hussein J. Current strategies for the reduction of maternal mortality. BJOG. 2005; 112 (9): 1180–8.
[5] Ghebrehiwet M, Morrow RM. Delay in seeking and receiving of the emergency obstetric care in Eritrea. Journal of the Eritrea Medical Association.2007; 2: 8-13.
[6] Ali YA, Malik MA, Hassan A. Comparative study of knowledge, Attitude and Practices among Antenatal Care facilities utilizing and non-utilizing women. JPak Med Assoc 2005; 55: 53.
[7] Federal Government of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Health and National Primary Health Care Development Agency. Midwives service scheme, March 2009.
[8] National Population Commission (Nigeria) and ICF Macro Nigeria, Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2008. Calverton, Maryland: National Population Commission and ICF/Macro. 2009.
[9] World Health Organization. Mother- baby package: Improving safe motherhood in countries. 1994; WHO Geneva.
[10] Hailu M, Gebremariam A, Alemsged F, Knowledge about obstetric danger signs among pregnant women in Aletta Wondo district, Sidama zone, Southern Ethiopia. Ethiop J Health Sci. 2010; 20 (1): 25-32.
[11] Kabakyenga JK, Ostergren P, Turyakira E, Peterson K. Knowledge of obstetric danger signs and birth preparedness practices among women in rural Uganda. Reproductive health. 2011; 8: 33-43.
[12] Perreira KM, Bailey PE, de Bocaletti E, Hurtado E, Recinos de Villagran S, Matute J. Increasing awareness of danger signs of pregnancy through community and clinic-based education in Guatemala. Matern Child Health J. 2002; 6(1): 19-28.
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Author Information
  • Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria

  • Department of HIV Care and Department of Community Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Nigeria

  • Department of Community Medicine, Imo State University / University Teaching Hospital Orlu, Nigeria

  • Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria

  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria

  • Department of Community Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University / University Teaching Hospital (NAU / NAUTH), Nnewi, Nigeria

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    Chuka C. Agunwa, Chinomnso C. Nnebue, Chukwuma B. Duru, Patricia N. Aniebue, Uzochukwu U. Aniebue, et al. (2015). Knowledge of Obstetric Danger Signs Among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Communities in Enugu State, Nigeria. American Journal of Health Research, 3(6), 376-380. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20150306.20

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    ACS Style

    Chuka C. Agunwa; Chinomnso C. Nnebue; Chukwuma B. Duru; Patricia N. Aniebue; Uzochukwu U. Aniebue, et al. Knowledge of Obstetric Danger Signs Among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Communities in Enugu State, Nigeria. Am. J. Health Res. 2015, 3(6), 376-380. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20150306.20

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    AMA Style

    Chuka C. Agunwa, Chinomnso C. Nnebue, Chukwuma B. Duru, Patricia N. Aniebue, Uzochukwu U. Aniebue, et al. Knowledge of Obstetric Danger Signs Among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Communities in Enugu State, Nigeria. Am J Health Res. 2015;3(6):376-380. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20150306.20

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20150306.20,
      author = {Chuka C. Agunwa and Chinomnso C. Nnebue and Chukwuma B. Duru and Patricia N. Aniebue and Uzochukwu U. Aniebue and Chigozie O. Ifeadike},
      title = {Knowledge of Obstetric Danger Signs Among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Communities in Enugu State, Nigeria},
      journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
      volume = {3},
      number = {6},
      pages = {376-380},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20150306.20},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20150306.20},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20150306.20},
      abstract = {Background: Lack of knowledge of obstetric danger signs, resulting in inability to recognize and probably react to the needs for accessing quality health care remains a major cause of preventable maternal deaths. Objective: To determine the knowledge of obstetric danger signs and its determinants amongst women of reproductive age in rural communities in Nigeria. Materials and methods: A total of 602 women of child bearing age were studied. Data collection employed a pretested, self-administered structured questionnaire and was analysed using statistical package for social sciences version 17. Bivariate analysis was done to identify factors associated with good levels of knowledge of danger signs. Logistic regression was used to identify determinants of a high knowledge score among women. A p value of Results: Majority of respondents had a poor level of knowledge of obstetric danger signs 286(47.5%). The most mentioned symptom was vaginal bleeding; 358(59.5%). Factors associated with knowledge of obstetric danger signs include: age (p=0.000), marital status (p=0.000), educational level attained (p=0.049) and parity (p=0.000). Attaining tertiary level of education (OR: 3.906), teaching profession (OR: 15.104) self-employed business engagement (OR: 16.144) and a high level of knowledge of disease causation (OR: 3.336) were predictors of the level of knowledge of danger signs among them. Conclusion: We recommend that effective and sustained health education and behavioral change programs with high local content be instituted in our rural communities.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Knowledge of Obstetric Danger Signs Among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Communities in Enugu State, Nigeria
    AU  - Chuka C. Agunwa
    AU  - Chinomnso C. Nnebue
    AU  - Chukwuma B. Duru
    AU  - Patricia N. Aniebue
    AU  - Uzochukwu U. Aniebue
    AU  - Chigozie O. Ifeadike
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    T2  - American Journal of Health Research
    JF  - American Journal of Health Research
    JO  - American Journal of Health Research
    SP  - 376
    EP  - 380
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8796
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20150306.20
    AB  - Background: Lack of knowledge of obstetric danger signs, resulting in inability to recognize and probably react to the needs for accessing quality health care remains a major cause of preventable maternal deaths. Objective: To determine the knowledge of obstetric danger signs and its determinants amongst women of reproductive age in rural communities in Nigeria. Materials and methods: A total of 602 women of child bearing age were studied. Data collection employed a pretested, self-administered structured questionnaire and was analysed using statistical package for social sciences version 17. Bivariate analysis was done to identify factors associated with good levels of knowledge of danger signs. Logistic regression was used to identify determinants of a high knowledge score among women. A p value of Results: Majority of respondents had a poor level of knowledge of obstetric danger signs 286(47.5%). The most mentioned symptom was vaginal bleeding; 358(59.5%). Factors associated with knowledge of obstetric danger signs include: age (p=0.000), marital status (p=0.000), educational level attained (p=0.049) and parity (p=0.000). Attaining tertiary level of education (OR: 3.906), teaching profession (OR: 15.104) self-employed business engagement (OR: 16.144) and a high level of knowledge of disease causation (OR: 3.336) were predictors of the level of knowledge of danger signs among them. Conclusion: We recommend that effective and sustained health education and behavioral change programs with high local content be instituted in our rural communities.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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