Abstract:
Background:Knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy and health care seeking actions after recognition of danger signs is essential for the good outcome of the mothers and expected new born. Increased knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy to the pregnant women is crucial for reducing delays in seeking health care.
Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy and its association with health care seeking actions among pregnant women at Ilembula DDH, Njombe.
Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study design employed quantitative approach was conducted to pregnant women attended at Ilembula RCH for routine Antenatal care. A systematic random sampling method was used to select women to be interviewed. The pregnant women were interviewed using a self administered semi structured swahili questionnaire with closed and open ended questions. Collected data was coded, entered, cleaned and analysed using the statistical package of social science (SPSS) version 21. Data analysis was done by using descriptive statistics and chi square test to show the association between variables.
Results: A total of 288 pregnant women have been incorporated in this study. 34% participants found to have good knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy. Maternal age, occupation, educational level, marital status and source of information were variables found to be statistical significantly with women’s knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy (p=<0.005). Most women (78%) have been informed about the danger signs by health personnel when attending ANC visits. More than a half of pregnant women (56%) with good knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy sought for health care after recognition of danger signs during pregnancy. Likewise the findings have shown that there is statistical significance between knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy and health care seeking action (p=0.001).
Conclusion: Based on this study the findings suggested that, poor knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy is one of the reasons of failure to recoginize pregnancy related complications as well as making decision to seek for appropriate health care.
Recommendation: The Ministry of Health, Community, Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDEC) and other stakeholders may need to design the monitored guidelines which will help to strengthen the ANC services provided to pregnant women including provision of targeted health education informations to pregnant women.
