Abstract
Background. Preconception care is a set of interventional care for the better maternal and childbirth outcome. Nevertheless, this area still faces implementation problems in most of the developing countries including Ethiopia. Objective. To assess the knowledge of preconception care and associated factors among healthcare providers working in public health institutions in Awi zone, North West Ethiopia. Method. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 660 healthcare providers working in public health institutions in Awi zone, North West Ethiopia. A pretested structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data from individual healthcare providers who were selected randomly using a multistage sampling technique. The data entry and analysis were conducted using SPSS version 25 software. Frequency, proportions, means, and standard deviations were used to describe the data. Candidate variables at bivariate logistic regression with a p value > 0.2 were moved to multivariable logistic regression models, and statistical significance was declared at p value < 0.05 with 95% confidence interval. Result. Among the total of 660 healthcare providers, 344 (52%) had good knowledge of preconception care. The odds ratio of having good knowledge of preconception care was high among healthcare providers working at hospitals [AOR=2.316, 95% CI: 1.900-5.528], using smartphones [AOR=3.177, 95% CI: 1.945-5.167], presence of preconception care guidelines at health institutions [AOR=3.166, 95% CI: 1.872-5.299], taking training on preconception care education and counseling [AOR=3.812, 95% CI: 2.241-6.581], taking training about human immune virus [AOR=4.911, 95% CI: 3.008-8.123], and attending training on increasing public awareness of preconception health and care [AOR=2.345, 95% CI: 3.922-5.488] which were independent predictors associated with knowledge of preconception care among healthcare providers. Conclusion. Healthcare providers’ knowledge of preconception care was low. Study participants working at hospitals, using smartphones, presence of preconception guidelines at health institutions, taking training on preconception education and counseling, taking training about human immune virus testing and management, and increasing public awareness of preconception care affect knowledge of health providers positively. The provision of updated training on preconception and linkage of internet service with health service should be enhanced among healthcare providers.
Highlights
According to World Health Organization, preconception care is a way of provision of preventive, curative health of biomedical, behavioral, and social health interventions to women and couples before conception occurs to improve maternal and child health outcomes, in both the short term and the long term [1]
The finding of this study revealed that 344 (52%) of healthcare providers have good knowledge on preconception care which was nearly consistent with the finding reported in Iran, a moderate level of preconception knowledge 30-67% [16]
The result of this study revealed that healthcare providers who were trained about increasing public awareness on preconception care [AOR = 2:345, 95% CI: 3.922-5.489] and preconception education and counseling [AOR = 3:812, 95% CI: 2.241-6.581] were knowledgeable on preconception care than those healthcare providers who did not take training on preconception care
Summary
According to World Health Organization, preconception care is a way of provision of preventive, curative health of biomedical, behavioral, and social health interventions to women and couples before conception occurs to improve maternal and child health outcomes, in both the short term and the long term [1]. Improving the knowledge of health professionals is an important strategy to provide the appropriate preconception care for women before pregnancy with good health status and to minimize risks faced during childbirth by evidencebased risk assessment. This is mainly feasible by identifying factors for preconception care to achieve better pregnancy outcomes among women. To assess the knowledge of preconception care and associated factors among healthcare providers working in public health institutions in Awi zone, North West Ethiopia. The provision of updated training on preconception and linkage of internet service with health service should be enhanced among healthcare providers
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