Knowledge, attitude and practice towards COVID-19 and associated factors among pregnant women at Debark Town Northwest Ethiopia: An institutional-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnant women are at high risk for coronavirus because of their physiologic and immunologic changes. Hence, preventive measures are essential as they prevent higher mortality. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the prevention of coronavirus in the study area. Thus, this study assesses knowledge, attitude, practice, and associated factor towards coronavirus prevention among pregnant women is crucial. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was employed among 549 pregnant women from June 1 to 30, 2021. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. The software Epi-data version 4.6 and SPSS version 23 were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Binary logistic regressions (bivariable and multivariable) were performed to identify statistically significant variables. Adjusted odds ratio with a 95% CI was used to declare statistically significant variables on the basis of a p-value < 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Of the overall sample required (N = 549), 538 pregnant women with 98.0% response rate. The prevalence of good knowledge was 67.3% (95% CI: 63.0, 71.0), a desirable attitude was 43.0% (95% CI: 42.6%, 50.6%), and good practice was 51.6% (95% CI: 47.0, 55.9%) towards coronavirus prevention. Urban residents (AOR: 2.12, 95%, CI: 1.40, 3.20), unemployed husbands (AOR: 0.39, 95%, CI: 0.25, 0.62) and less than 3000 Ethiopian birr family income (AOR: 0.53, 95%, CI: 0.32, 0.85) were found to be statistically significant with knowledge of coronavirus, where as participants’ age (32–38 years) (AOR:2.24, 95%, CI:1.02, 4.26), participants’ education( AOR:2.33, 95%CI:1.19, 4.55), husbands’ education (AOR:2.88(95% CI:1.35,4.54),and husband’s occupation (AOR: 1.94, 95%, CI: 1.24, 3.03) were also significantly associated with the practice of coronavirus prevention. Conclusions: The findings have indicated that the prevalence of the study participants who had good knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards prevention of coronavirus were low compared to developing countries. Hence, healthcare providers should provide health education to pregnant mothers during antenatal care visits and disseminate leaflets regarding the COVID-19 preventive measures.