Knowledge and Attitude on Preconception Care and Associated Factors Among Women of Reproductive Age With Chronic Disease Who Have Follow-up at Amhara Regional State Referral Hospitals, Ethiopia, 2022; Multicenter Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Preconception care is an important window to target maternal morbidity and mortality, especially for women who have chronic diseases. However, little was known about knowledge and attitudes towards preconception care among women of reproductive age with chronic disease. Therefore this study aimed to assess Knowledge and attitude on preconception care and associated factors among women of reproductive age with chronic disease who have follow-up at Amhara Regional State Referral Hospitals, Ethiopia, 2022. Method:A multicenter cross-sectional study design was conducted among 828 women of reproductive age from April 15 to June 1, 2022. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select study participants. Data was collected by using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and chart review. Bi-variate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out, and statistical significance was declared with P <0.05 and AOR with a 95% confidence interval. Result:This study found that 55.6% of respondents had a good knowledge on preconception care, and about half of the women (50.2%) had a good attitude towards PCC. Women, who attended formal education (AOR: 1.997, 95% CI: 1.247, 3.196), prim-parity (AOR: 2.589, 95% CI: 1.132, 5.921), received preconception counseling (AOR: 3.404, 95% CI: 2.170, 5.340), duration of disease ≥ 5 years (AOR: 6.495, 95% CI: 4.091, 10.310) were significantly associated with knowledge on PCC. Woman's age ≥35years (AOR: 2.143, 95% CI: 1.058, 4.339), women who attended secondary education and above (AOR: 2.427, 95% CI: 1.421, 4.146), history of modern family planning use (AOR: 2.853 95% CI: 1.866, 4.362), received preconception counseling (AOR: 2.209, 95% CI: 1.429, 3.414) and having good knowledge on PCC (AOR: 20.629, 95% CI: 12.425, 34.249) were significantly associated with attitude towards PCC. Conclusions:The finding of this study showed that women’s knowledge and attitude on preconception care were relatively low. Health professionals in the study area shall counsel women to improve knowledge and attitude on preconception care.