Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards COVID-19 of Pregnant Women at a Primary Health Care Facility in South Africa

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of people globally. Several preventive measures have been recommended to reduce the spread of the disease. However, the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of these preventive measures among pregnant women, are yet to be evaluated in South Africa. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the KAP towards COVID-19 among pregnant women. The purpose was to identify KAP gaps of pregnant women and develop educational materials and implement programmes. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was undertaken. Student’s t-test, ANOVA test, Pearson’s correlation test and Binary logistic regression analysis was carried out. Majority of the respondents were single (71%), unemployed (52%), and had low education (78% had either no or less than 12 years education). More than half (51.2%) had vulnerable comorbidities for COVID-19 infection and complication. Both knowledge and attitude mean of pregnant women were found to be low at 43.5% and 30% respectively. However, their practice on prevention of COVID-19 was good at 76%. Knowledge was found to be significantly positively correlated with practice towards COVID-19 (r= 0.111). Women having good knowledge were seven times more likely to practice positively regarding COVID-19 (P=0.019). Women having 1-5 years of education were 94% less likely to practice good towards COVID-19 prevention (P=0.018) compared to those having post matric education. The pregnant women in this research had inadequate knowledge and attitude of COVID-19 infection. However, preventive practices were good among them. Mass education and communication strategies are thus required to improve the knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women towards COVID-19.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Pregnant Women Attending the Antenatal Clinic of Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria towards the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

“…The overall level of good attitude of respondents towards the covid-19 pandemic in the present study of 20.2% was similar to the 25% documented in South Africa [21] and 17.8% in Kano, [27] northern Nigeria. Similarly, low percentage of good attitude of 51.5% and 56.4% were reported in Uganda [26] and Onitsha, [32] south-east Nigeria respectively.…”

“…This was comparable with similar age groups of 30-39years, 31-35years, 30-34years, 25-35years and 18-39years reported by Ejeh et al, [14] Anikwe et al, [15] Omozuwa et al, [16] Edet et al [17] and Reuben et al [18] respectively. This however contrast the lower age groups of 12-24years, 20-29years, 20-29years, 21-30years and < 25years documented by Sayedahmed et al, [19] Nicholas et al, [20] Hoque et al, [21] Ogbole et al [22] and Kamal et al [23] respectively. A predominantly high age group of > 50years was however observed by Ayinde et al [24] These varying age group predominance could be attributed to different study populations and varying geographic locations.…”

“…This high knowledge level corroborates the 85.3%, 86.6% and 88.75% documented by Omozuwa et al, [16] Edet et al [17] and Ejeh et al [14] in Nigeria but lower than the over 90% and 90% reported by Anozie et al [25] and Zhong et al [31] in Abakaliki south-east Nigeria and China respectively. Lower knowledge levels of 78.7%, 60.7%, 30.47%, 75.3%, 43%, 68.3% and 21.9% were reported in Nigeria, [6,32,27] India, [23] South Africa, [21] Sudan [19] and Cameroon [20] respectively. This varying knowledge could be attributable to the varying study population and time of study in relation to when the pandemic began as well as difference in the questions asked in the various studies.…”

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Its Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care Clinic in Southwest Ethiopia: Institutional-Based Cross-Sectional Study

“…33 However, it was lower than a study conducted in South Africa. 35 The variation of the finding could be explained that due to study area and study population difference; for instance, pregnant mothers have better awareness of COVID-19 prevention practice compared to the community due to frequent visits to health institution during their antenatal care follow-up.…”

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Patients on COVID-19 Epidemic Attending a Primary Health Care Setting Durban, South Africa

“…and practices of preventative health behavior of COVID-19. [18], [19] The study samples were selected from the patients attending KCHC outpatient departments. All patients who attended the doctor's consultation were asked to participate in the study after the consultation.…”