Abstract:
Background: Maternal mortality is a big burden in the world and Preeclampsia is one of the five
major causes of maternal mortality. Every year one-fourth of all maternal death, and half a million
infants death are related with preeclampsia and it’s complications. Ethiopia has still high maternal
mortality, and preeclampsia shows an increasing figure. So it is important to assess the knowledge
on preeclampsia and associated factors to fill the gap.
Objectives: To assess the level of knowledge on preeclampsia and identify factors associated
among pregnant women who are on ANC in Dire Dawa city administration public health facilities
from Jan 1-30/2017.
Methods: A health facility based cross sectional study was conducted on 615 pregnant women in
Dire Dawa city administration, Systematic random sampling was used to recruit study
participants.using pretested structured questionnaire. The data were coded and entered into Epi
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data version 3.3 and analyzed using SPSS version 22.Both descriptives and analytic analysis were
performed. Statistical significance was declared at p-value<0.05.
Results: In this study 338(55%) pregnant women answered the mean and above score of
pre-eclampsia knowledge questions. In multiviriabel logistic regression urban residence
(AOR=2.9, 95% CI=1.4 – 6.0), previous last place of delivery (AOR=2.5, 95% CI=1.2-4.2) and
radio listening (AOR=2.3, 95% CI=1.2-4.2) were the factors associated with knowledge of
preeclampsia.
Conclusion and recommendations: This finding shows more than half of participated pregnant
women had knowledge towards pre-eclampsia. Being urban residency, Last place of delivery in
health facility and listening radio were factors that are associated with knowledge of
pre-eclampsia. DireDawa health office should creat awearness for rural residents on
pre-eclampsia, promot health facility delivery and health eduction towards pre-eclampsia during
ANC follow up
