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

Bin-Eradi Imani Ramazani (), Simon-Decap Mabakutuvangilanga Ntala, Daniel Katuashi Ishoso and Monique Rothan-Tondeur
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Bin-Eradi Imani Ramazani: Nursing Sciences Research Chair, Laboratory Educations and Health Practices (LEPS), (EA 3412), UFR SMBH, University Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cite, F-93017 Bobigny, France
Simon-Decap Mabakutuvangilanga Ntala: Nursing Sciences Research Chair, Laboratory Educations and Health Practices (LEPS), (EA 3412), UFR SMBH, University Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cite, F-93017 Bobigny, France
Daniel Katuashi Ishoso: Center for Research in Nursing Sciences and Health Innovation (CReSIIS), K-012, Kinshasa P.O. Box 11850, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Monique Rothan-Tondeur: Nursing Sciences Research Chair, Laboratory Educations and Health Practices (LEPS), (EA 3412), UFR SMBH, University Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cite, F-93017 Bobigny, France

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 8, 1-15

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.

Keywords: knowledge evaluation; pregnant women; obstetric danger signs; Democratic Republic of the Congo (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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