Original Research Article
Year: 2021 | Month: April | Volume: 11 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 21-33
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20210403
Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Pregnant Women Attending the Antenatal Clinic of Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria towards the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
Boma Awoala West1, Josephine Enekole Aitafo2, Dango Genesis Bietonka Kalio3
1Consultant Paediatrician, Department of Paediatrics, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, No 6-8 Harley Street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
2Consultant Paediatrician, Department of Paediatrics, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, No 6-8 Harley Street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
3Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, No 6-8 Harley Street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Boma Awoala West
ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19, a new respiratory infection was declared a global pandemic in 2020. Pregnant women are at risk because of their physiologic and immunologic changes. Preventive measures are essential as there is no definite cure. This study was therefore carried out to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic of Rivers State University Teaching hospital, Nigeria towards the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted at the antenatal clinic of the hospital over 6weeks. Scores assessing knowledge, attitudes and practices were allocated and graded based on specific stratified demarcations.
Results: Two hundred and six respondents (81.4%) were assessed to have good knowledge. Fifty-one (20.2%) had overall good attitude while 67(26.5%) had good practice of preventive measures. The commonest symptoms of COVID-19 recalled were cough 169(27.8%), shortness of breath 153(25.1%) and fever 145(23.7%). Parity, mother’s and spouse’s level of education and occupation were significantly associated with knowledge levels while age of the mothers was associated with the attitude towards COVID-19 infection. Parity, mother’s and spouse’s level of education and occupation were significantly associated with the practice levels. There was an association of good knowledge and good attitude levels with good practice level (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Although pregnant women in Port Harcourt generally had good knowledge, majority of them had poor attitude and practice towards the pandemic. We therefore recommend strengthening public health education campaigns (including via antenatal clinic health talks, television and social media), providing evidence-based policies and debunking of wrong beliefs.
Key words: COVID-19; Knowledge; Attitude; Practice; Pregnant women.