Knowledge and Practice of Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness Among Pregnant Women Attending Mission Hospitals in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPACR) help to mitigate life-threatening complications. In this study, 405 pregnant women in their third trimester were assessed for their knowledge and practice of BPACR using a pretested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. One hundred and seventy respondents (42.0%) were knowledgeable about BPACR, and 231 (57.0%) were birth prepared and complication ready. Primiparity (OR = 1.803, 95% CI = 1.031–3.153) and knowledge of BPACR (OR = 4.408, 95% CI = 2.766–7.027) were predictive of BPACR. Every effort should be made to improve women’s preparedness through increasing the awareness of BPACR among pregnant women. This can be achieved by adequately training health care personnel on BPACR and structuring the antenatal care services in a way that ensures that every woman receives the appropriate information.