Knowledge of Obstetric Danger Signs and its Associated Factors in Arba Minch Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: In many developing countries including Ethiopia, maternal morbidity and mortality still pose a substantial burden even if various programs are undertaken by public sectors as well as the non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Majority of maternal health sectors in developing countries consider knowledge of women about the obstetric danger signs as the first essential step in order to accept appropriate and timely referral to obstetric care. However, in Ethiopia little is known about the knowledge level of mothers about obstetric danger signs. Objective: To assess the level of knowledge about obstetrics danger signs among mothers who gave birth in the last three years prior to the survey in Arba Minch town, Ethiopia. Methods: A Community based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 20, 2013 to June 30, 2014 on a randomly selected sample of 390 women who had at least one delivery in the past three years. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data. Bivariate and multivariate data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0 statistical software. Result: Three hundred ninety mothers participated in the study making a response rate of 100%. From all respondents, 24.1% of them were knowledgeable while 75.9% were not knowledgeable about obstetric danger signs that occurred during pregnancy, labor and postnatal period. Conclusion: Educational status, age, monthly income, and decision making power were independently associated with knowledge of obstetric danger signs. Thus, provision of information, education, facilitate income generating mechanisms , and communication targeting women, family and the community on danger signs of pregnancy and childbirth was recommended.