Assessment of Maternal Knowledge of Birth Preparedness among Pregnant Women Attending a Comprehensive Health Care Centre in Ondo State, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study
Keywords:
birth preparedness; maternal knowledge; pregnant women; antenatal care; skilled birth attendance; NigeriaAbstract
Background: Birth preparedness is an important component of safe motherhood because it encourages pregnant women and their families to anticipate delivery needs, identify appropriate care, arrange transportation and finances, and plan for skilled attendance.
Objective: To assess maternal knowledge of birth preparedness among pregnant women attending the Comprehensive Health Care Center, Opa-Idanre, Idanre, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among pregnant women receiving antenatal care. The project reports 77 respondents. An adopted structured questionnaire assessed socio-demographic characteristics and maternal knowledge of birth preparedness. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26.0 with frequencies and percentages.
Results: Sixty respondents (60%) were aware of the importance of preparing for childbirth ahead of time. Sixty-one (61%) had received birth-preparedness information from healthcare providers. Awareness of signs of labour was 93.5%; 70.1% knew the importance of antenatal care in preparation; 76.6% were familiar with the importance of skilled birth attendance; and 68.8% were aware of potential childbirth complications. Saving money was the most frequently identified meaning/component of birth preparedness (50.6%), followed by identifying a skilled birth attendant (16.9%), arranging transportation (13.0%), choosing a healthcare facility (11.7%) and preparing a birth plan (7.8%).
Conclusion: Respondents demonstrated generally favourable knowledge, but gaps remained in awareness of childbirth complications and in understanding birth preparedness as a multidimensional process. Structured antenatal education should therefore emphasize complication readiness and practical planning.
References
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2. Akinwaare, M. O., & Oluwatosin, A. (2023). Effect of goal-oriented prenatal education on birth preparedness and institutional delivery among semi-urban pregnant women in Nigeria: A quasiexperimental study. PLOS ONE, 18(7), e0288751.
3. Enuku, C., & Osarugwe, A. (2023). Knowledge and practice of birth preparedness among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a secondary health institution in Edo State. The Nigerian Health Journal, 22(4), 363–370. https://doi.org/10.60787/tnhj.v22i4.595
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