Background: Improving knowledge of obstetric danger signs and promoting birth preparedness practices are\r\nstrategies aimed at enhancing utilization of skilled care in low-income countries. The aim of the study was to\r\nexplore the association between knowledge of obstetric danger signs and birth preparedness among recently\r\ndelivered women in south-western Uganda.\r\nMethods: The study included 764 recently delivered women from 112 villages in Mbarara district. Community\r\nsurvey methods were used and 764 recently delivered women from 112 villages in Mbarara district were included\r\nin study. Interviewer administered questionnaire were used to collect data. Logistic regression analyses were\r\nconducted to explore the relationship between knowledge of key danger signs and birth preparedness.\r\nResults: Fifty two percent of women knew at least one key danger sign during pregnancy, 72% during delivery\r\nand 72% during postpartum. Only 19% had knowledge of 3 or more key danger signs during the three periods. Of\r\nthe four birth preparedness practices; 91% had saved money, 71% had bought birth materials, 61% identified a\r\nhealth professional and 61% identified means of transport. Overall 35% of the respondents were birth prepared.\r\nThe relationship between knowledge of at least one key danger sign during pregnancy or during postpartum and\r\nbirth preparedness showed statistical significance which persisted after adjusting for probable confounders (OR 1.8,\r\n95% CI: 1.2-2.6) and (OR 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2-3.0) respectively. Young age and high levels of education had synergistic\r\neffect on the relationship between knowledge and birth preparedness. The associations between knowledge of at\r\nleast one key danger sign during childbirth or knowledge that prolonged labour was a key danger sign and birth\r\npreparedness were not statistically significant.\r\nConclusions: The prevalence of recently delivered women who had knowledge of key danger signs or those who\r\nwere birth prepared was very low. Since the majority of women attend antenatal care sessions, the quality and\r\nmethods of delivery of antenatal care education require review so as to improve its effectiveness. Universal primary\r\nand secondary education programmes ought to be promoted so as to enhance the impact of knowledge of key\r\ndanger signs on birth preparedness practices.
Loading....