Knowledge of Obstetric Danger Signs among Pregnant Women in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

A lack of awareness regarding obstetric danger signs (ODS) is one of the factors that delay a pregnant woman’s decision to seek emergency obstetric care. In developing countries, this delay can lead to high morbidity and mortality among pregnant women. In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), very few studies have been conducted to assess the level of knowledge of pregnant women about ODS. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge of pregnant women about ODS in health facilities in eastern DRC. This quantitative cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted in 19 health facilities in the Kasongo health zone in the south Maniema Province of eastern DRC. A total of 624 pregnant women aged 12–49 years were interviewed in this study. Of these, 60.6% were secondary school graduates, >99% were married, 85.5% were cultivators, and 67.9% were Muslims. The knowledge of ODS among pregnant women was low (21.9%). The most cited danger signs during pregnancy, labor/delivery, and postpartum included severe abdominal pain and severe vaginal bleeding. Additionally, pregnant women aged 30–39 years (p = 0.015) and those who had given birth once (p = 0.049), twice (p = 0.003), 3–5 times (p = 0.004), and >5 times (p = 0.009) were more likely to be aware of ODS than others. Our findings indicated that pregnant women have little knowledge of ODS, which makes it difficult for them to take prompt decisions to seek emergency obstetric care. Thus, strategies to increase the knowledge of pregnant women about obstetrical danger signs by healthcare providers during prenatal consultations (antenatal care) must be developed to improve their rapid decision-making skills during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.

Pregnancy Risk Perception, Knowledge of Obstetric Danger Signs and Attitude Towards Skilled Delivery Service Utilization Among Pregnant Mothers in a Rural Setting in South Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

“…The danger signs that were most frequently discussed during pregnancy were weakness 173 (25.9%), vaginal bleeding 145 (21.7%), and reduced fetal movement 105 (15.7%), which is contradictory to a study reported in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, which found that severe abdominal pain was the best-known danger sign. 25 This result was in line with other research findings published in Ethiopia and Africa and revealed that severe vaginal bleeding was the frequently mentioned obstetric danger sign during pregnancy and postpartum period. 13,20,25,28,29 Labor of more than 12 hours and abnormal fetal position were the most common danger signs mentioned by study participants during labor and childbirth.…”

“…25 This result was in line with other research findings published in Ethiopia and Africa and revealed that severe vaginal bleeding was the frequently mentioned obstetric danger sign during pregnancy and postpartum period. 13,20,25,28,29 Labor of more than 12 hours and abnormal fetal position were the most common danger signs mentioned by study participants during labor and childbirth. This finding was consistent with the finding reported in Wolayita Sodo Town, Southern Ethiopia.…”

“…This result contradicts a study conducted in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo that found women aged 30-39 years were more likely than other age groups to be knowledgeable of obstetric danger indicators. 16,20,25,26 In this study, maternal age, education, and parity were determinants of knowledge of obstetric danger signs. Pregnant mothers aged 25-34 years were more likely than other age groups to be knowledgeable of obstetric danger indicators.…”

“…This finding is consistent with the finding reported in South Ethiopia in Yirgachefe city (21.9%) 20 and Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (21.9%). 25 Our study was done among rural mothers. In this study, the knowledge of obstetric danger signs was higher than the findings reported in Wolayita Sodo City in Southern Ethiopia (16.8%) 26 and Jordan (15.2%).…”

Effectiveness of Community Engagement Using M-Mama Champions in Improving Literacy of Obstetric Danger Signs, Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness Among Pregnant Women in Bahi, Dodoma. A Community-Based, Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Maternal mortality remains a global public health issue, despite the global initiative to reduce it to meet the targets under Sustainable Development Goal 3, which envisages reducing it to less than 70 for every 100,000 live births by 2030 globally (1). Maternal mortality commonly occurs during intrapartum and the rst day post-partum (2) and Obstetric danger signs account for more than 75% of all obstetric complications leading to maternal deaths (3,4). However, there is still low knowledge of obstetric danger signs, birth preparedness, and complication readiness and their practice among pregnant women, which plays a signi cant role in the slow pace of maternal mortality reduction (5).…”