Level of Awareness on Danger Signs of Pregnancy among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Mizan Aman General Hospital, Southwest, Ethiopia: Institution Based Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Back ground: Every pregnant woman faces the risk of sudden, unpredictable complication that could end in death or injury to mother or infant. Danger signs of pregnancies are warning signs that women encounter during pregnancy, child birth and postpartum. It is important, to know this warning signs for women. The most common danger signs are: vaginal bleeding, convulsions, abdominal pain, severe headaches, blurred vision, and absence of fetal movements and gush of fluid from vagina. This study aimed at to assess level of awareness on danger signs of pregnancy among women attending antenatal care (ANC) in Mizan Aman General Hospital (MAGH), Southwestern, Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional based cross sectional study was conducted in May 2014. A total of 358 pregnant mothers were included in the study. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants at the exit of ANC service, face to face interviewer technique was used to collect data and descriptive analyze was done. Result: This study shows that 53% of the study participants have poor awareness on danger signs of pregnancy. Educational status, member of ANC visit and occupation of the mother are factors that affect the level of awareness. As education level increase awareness of the mother also increase, 69% of respondent who were at high school and above were aware, while only 10.2% of illiterate have good awareness on danger sign of pregnancy. The study shows government employee are more aware 30.56% than house wives 12.23% and as the number of ANC visit increase the awareness of the mother also increase. Conclusion: Mother’s awareness on danger signs of pregnancy was poor and affected by educational status, ANC follow up and occupation. Therefore women must empower to get education by the government. Medias shall better to give health education related to danger signs of pregnancy.