ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLADGE AND HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR TOWARD MATERNAL DANGER SIGN AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANC FOLLW UP AT WOLKITE UNIVERSITY SPECIALZED TEACHING HOSPITAL, WOLKITE, SOUTH ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy danger signs are warning signs that women encounter during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Globally, about 810 women died every day from preventable causes related to obstetric complications. Haemorrhage alone accounts for one-third of all maternal deaths in Africa. In 2019, approximately, 99% of the global maternal deaths occurred in developing countries with the majority of these deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa where the majority of women lack knowledge about obstetric danger signs.Objectives: To assess knowledge and health seeking behaviour of pregnancy dangers signs among pregnant women attending ANC at wolkite University Specialized Teaching Hospital, Wolkite, South, Ethiopia, 2022. Methods and Martials: Facility based cross sectional study was carried out at wolkite University Specialized Teaching Hospital from May 06-May 22, 2022.The sample size were 311 and had been selected by systematic simple random sampling method. The descriptive statistics was summarized using summary statistics such as frequency tables, graphs, percentages, means. In order to ensure the quality of the data and not to doubts in response, the structured questionnaire wase pretested from May 01-May 06 ,2022 in Wolkite health centre before the actual study started.Result: There were 311 mothers involved in the study which gave a response rate of 100%. The majority of respondents age 95 (30.55%), were found in the range of 25-29 years with mean age of 28.4. Regarding their knowledge level out of 311 study participants 239(76.8%) of them has good knowledge about dangers signs occur during pregnancy and 45(14.5%) of the respondents who experienced obstetric danger signs with 37(82.22%) of them had good health seeking behaviour seeking medical care when they faced problem. From 45(14.5%) of the respondents who experienced obstetric danger signs 37(82.22%) of them had good health seeking behaviour seeking medical care when they faced problem.Conclusion and Recommendations: This study conclude that 239(76.8%) of respondents makegood knowledge about dangers signs occur during pregnancy and the respondents who experienced obstetric danger signs 37(82.22%) of them had good health seeking medical care when they faced problem. And We recommended mobilizing communities to increase knowledge and health seeking behavior on obstetric danger sign during pregnant