Postpartum Women's Knowledge of Obstetric Danger Signs: A Cross-sectional Survey at Harare Hospital, Zimbabwe = Postpartum Women's Knowledge of Obstetric Danger Signs: A Cross-sectional Survey at Harare Hospital, Zimbabwe

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Purpose: The United Nations(UN) has implemented the target of Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) in effort to reduce global maternal mortality rate(MMR). Globally, an estimated 295 000 maternal deaths occurred in 2017. In particular, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia accounted for approximately 86%(254,000) of the estimated global number of maternal deaths in 2017 with sub-Saharan Africa alone accounting for roughly 66%(196,000). Zimbabwe has a maternal mortality rate of 458 per 100,000 people in 2017, six times higher than the UN SDGs of 70 per 100,000 live births. One of the causes of maternal morbidity and mortality is a lack of information on obstetric danger signs. The reason for this maternal mortality is the lack of knowledge for obstetric danger signs such hemorrhage, eclampsia and infection during pregnancy, childbirth or postpartum, and the inability to receive treatment at the appropriate time. Therefore, the purpose of study is to assess knowledge of obstetric danger signs among postpartum women at Harare hospital, Zimbabwe.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a semi-structured questionnaire was conducted among 401 women, ages of 18-49years old who were receiving postnatal and postpartum services as outpatients and admitted patients at Harare Central Hospital in Zimbabwe. The data was collected through trained surveyors at Harare Hospital. The collected data was then analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS) version 21 and through univariate descriptive statistics, followed by chi-square tests and logistic regression statistics to explore for associated factors.
Results: Most of the respondents(91.5%) had secondary education and replied that they had received information on danger signs(77.3%). The majority of women found signs of obstetrics and gynecology risks through medical workers (70.5%). The smallest portion of health information was provided by school-based health classes(0.5%). Factors affecting the level of women's knowledge of danger signs were parity, decision making, their own experience and health care workers, and statistically significant factors were education levels, relatives, radio / television and community bases(pvalue< 0.05).
Conclusion: Postpartum Womens in Zimbabwe had knowledge of more than 2 obstetrics danger signs during pregnancy, in labour and delivery, postpartum period. However information obtained from healthcare workers did not significantly influence the level of knowledge on obstetric danger signs. Short consultation time, unilateral information delivery by doctors, and lack of information resources outside medical facilities are factors that influenced the level of knowledge of danger signs among the respondents. This implies that longer consultation time, homogenous information received from health professionals are all aspects that influence women to obtain the knowledge of danger signs. With this said, government must develop Information, Education and Communication(IEC) strategies to provide detailed information on the danger signs and related factors. This can be done throughout rectification of policy, education of health workers and providing health education targeted for community public health.