Factors associated with level of knowledge on pre-eclampsia among pregnant women attending care at Tororo General Hospital, Uganda

Abstract

Background: Pre-eclampsia, (PE) is the second direct leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, complicating an average of 5% and upto 15% pregnancies in developed & developing countries including Uganda. In Uganda though the knowledge on PE among pregnant women attending tertiary institutions has been investigated, little is known about knowledge of PE among mothers in primary care setting like Tororo general hospital were an average of ten mothers with PE report late on a monthly basis. The study was set out to determine the level of knowledge and factors associated with inadequate knowledge on PE among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) at Tororo general hospital. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 290 pregnant women attending ANC at Tororo general hospital who were randomly selected. Using a closed ended questionnaire, data was collected on socio-demographic characteristics and history of PE. Knowledge of PE was assessed based on a series of questions regarding the awareness, signs/symptoms, risk factors and complications of PE. Responses were scored percentage-wise and grouped into low (< 60%), moderate (60–79%) and high (80–100%). Knowledge score was then re-stratified into adequate (% score of ≥60%) and inadequate knowledge of PE (% score of < 60%). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were done to determine the factors associated with inadequate knowledge. Results: The prevalence of inadequate and adequate knowledge of PE was 76.9% and 23.1% respectively. The factors associated with inadequate level of knowledge included; not having a family history of PE or hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, p=0.003; not experiencing any complications in previous pregnancy, p = 0.003; not having any chronic disease condition, p= <0.001; not knowing any cultural practices concerning PE, p=0.001; not having friends with past experience on PE, p=0.002. Conclusion: The level of knowledge of pre-eclampsia among pregnant women in Tororo general hospital, is inadequate at 76.9%. This highlights the need for intensified effort to improve knowledge of PE among women for improved pregnancy outcomes through health education regarding pre-eclampsia risk factors, symptoms, and complications emphasized during ANC visits, media engagements and or through Village Health Teams (VHT).