Knowledge of pregnant women towards pre-eclampsia in South Gondar zone, 2023

In light of the growing prevalence of pre-eclampsia within clinical settings and public life in Ethiopia, studies assessing the knowledge extent of pregnant women towards pre-eclampsia are lacking. Hence, this study sought to examine the level of knowledge and its associated factors among pregnant women regarding pre-eclampsia in the South Gondar zone of North Central Ethiopia in 2023. A community-based quantitative study design was conducted. Multi-stage cluster sampling technique was employed in South Gondar zone from May to June 2023, employing a structured questionnaire administered to 855 pregnant women. Simple random sampling is used to select the final study participants. Cross tabular analysis with Chi square and P values were done. Univariate and subsequent multi-variable logistic regression analysis was done for the association between the dependent and independent variable. P values < 0.05 were used to determine the presence of associations. The response rate of the respondents was 98.2%. Approximately half of (51%) the pregnant women had adequate knowledge towards pre-eclampsia (AOR = 51% 95% CI 48, 54). Pregnant women who thought hypertension is extremely dangerous were 57% less likely to have adequate Knowledge of pre-eclampsia (AOR = 0.43 95% CI 0.2, 0.92) than who thought the dangerousness of hypertension as very low. Those pregnant women who thought that diastolic blood pressure was important had 86% less likely to have adequate knowledge (AOR = 0.14 95% CI 0.32,0.63) that who thought the systolic blood pressure measurement was important. In addition, mothers who didn't try to lower blood pressure had 2.4 more odds of adequate knowledge than pregnant women who tried to control their blood pressure (AOR = 2.4 95% CI 1.4, 4.2). In the study area, nearly half of the pregnant women had adequate knowledge. Pregnant women who thought that hypertension was dangerous, who thought that diastolic blood pressure is an important indicator for hypertension and those who didn't try anything to lower their blood pressure were variables that are strongly associated with the adequate knowledge of pregnant women towards pre-eclampsia. To enhance the information and knowledge of pregnant women concerning pre-eclampsia in the study area, it is imperative to convey health information through locally accepted and contextually relevant approaches.