KNOWLEDGE ON PREECLAMPSIA AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN VISITING PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN DIRE DAWA CITY ADMINISTRATION

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 xiii 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