Abstract
Background: Severe acute respiratory infections are a group of respiratory tract infections caused by a beta coronavirus (SARS-COV2).Corona Virus Disease ("COVID-19") is a family of SARS caused by a novel coronavirus that has recently spread rapidly throughout the world. The literature reveals gaps in preventive measures for specific groups, such as pregnant women. Thus, this study was aimed at assessing this gap to help with interventions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 1 to 30, 2022, in the Dire Dawa city administration, Ethiopia. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to select participants, and data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Data were entered and cleaned by Epi DATA (Version 3.1) and analyzed using SPSS (Version 22). A P-value < 0.25 at bivariate to select variables for multivariate and ≤ 0.05 at multivariate with 95% confidence intervals was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 404 participants were included, for a response rate of 96.4%. About 60.6 percent and 46.3 percent of pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) were knowledgeable and had good practice against COVID-19 prevention measures, respectively. The predictors for knowledge were urban residence (AOR = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.06–0.17), media exposure (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.17–3.40), antenatal care visits (AOR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.33-5.35), and parity (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.18–0.88). While urban residence (AOR = 6.60, 95% CI: 4.01–10.90), low income (AOR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.37–0.93), and wanted pregnancy (AOR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.01- 3.04) were predictors for practice. Conclusion: Knowledge of pregnant women on COVID-19 was moderate compared to other studies, but their prevention practice was poor. Increased health education programs about COVID-19 were recommended for both urban and rural areas, as well as at hospital ANC wards.
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