Asian Journal of Research in Medicine and Medical Science

Background: Direct obstetric complications have largely contributed to increased maternal mortality in under developed and developed countries including Nigeria. The level of knowledge and perception of pregnant mothers about obstetric danger signs serves as indicators to these obstetric complications which will help in adequate management and prevention of maternal deaths. Therefore, this study will assess the level of knowledge and perception of danger signs among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in selected health facilities.

Methods: A cross sectional research design was adopted. Structured questionnaire was administered to three hundred and thirty four pregnant women that attended antenatal clinics in selected health facilities in Ife Central Local Government, Osun State. Descriptive and inferential (Chi square) analyses were used to present the data.

Results: A total of 334 respondents participated. The median age group was 25-34 years, 62.3% of the respondents had good knowledge and 52.7% of the respondents had positive perception towards obstetric danger signs during pregnancy; the study also found that there was no significant relationship between the knowledge and perception towards obstetric danger signs among the respondents(Sig. value = 0.233, p = <0.05).

Conclusion: This study concluded that more than half of the respondents had good knowledge on obstetric danger signs; a little above average of them signified positive perception on obstetric danger signs. A significant portion of the pregnant women still lack health information and have negative perception on obstetric danger signs, it implies the need for nurses and other health professionals to improve on our skills to give adequate health education on obstetric danger signs to pregnant women.