MATERNAL KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT TOWARDS REGISTRATION IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTERS DURING PREGNANCY IN SAGBAMA LGA, BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA

Aim/Objective: This study determines maternal attitudes towards antenatal registration in primary health care centers during pregnancy. Materials and Methods; A cross sectional approach and a simple random method was use in selecting the respondents (n=199) with the aid of questionnaire. Results: Observation from this study shows greater number of the respondents within the age of above 36yrs (34.19%) and 26-35yrs (37.19%) with a higher number of tertiary (52.26%) educational level backgrounds. Outcome from this study shows 89.95% of respondents having knowledge of registration compared with 10.05% of no knowledge during pregnancy. Their source of information was mainly from PHC centers (57.27%) and the media (23.62%) respectively. The centers registered was mainly PHC (49.25%) and hospitals (30.15%) while the participants awareness to antenatal care was (89.95%) as against (10.05%) with no awareness. More so 86.43% see antenatal care as important and 85.43% agreed that there are benefits from health seminars during pregnancy. Furthermore (87.94%) strongly agree that PHC registration during pregnancy improve safe delivery compare with (12.06%) that disagree. Conclusion: Most respondents in this study agree and have adequate knowledge about the benefit of early registration for antenatal care in PHC centers and hospitals as well during pregnancy. Therefore the government should build more health centers and hospitals that should be well equipped with modern facilities to promote good health and safe delivery among pregnant women in rural villages.