Appropriateness of healthcare-seeking behavior for obstetric danger signs among pregnant women in a mother- and baby-friendly hospital: a cross-sectional study

This study aimed to evaluate healthcare-seeking behaviors related to emergency obstetric conditions and the factors associated with appropriate healthcare-seeking among pregnant women followed in a tertiary healthcare institution adopting a Mother- and Baby-Friendly approach. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 337 pregnant women followed between May 1 and July 31, 2025. Data were collected using a structured, scenario-based questionnaire developed in accordance with the literature and current international clinical guidelines addressing obstetric emergencies. The instrument assessed healthcare-seeking behaviors across multiple emergency obstetric risk domains. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25.0. Overall, 91.7% of the pregnant women demonstrated appropriate orientation to the correct level of healthcare services in emergency obstetric scenarios. Appropriate healthcare-seeking scores were significantly higher among older age groups, with younger pregnant women showing lower scores ( p < 0.05). Subgroup analyses revealed the highest appropriate healthcare-seeking scores in acute and somatic risk domains, including life-threatening acute obstetric emergencies, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and systemic–metabolic–respiratory warning signs. In contrast, psychosocial and nutritional risk scenarios were associated with the lowest scores, indicating relatively lower recognition of these conditions as requiring urgent medical evaluation. Pregnant women followed in a mother–baby-friendly tertiary care setting demonstrate high levels of appropriate healthcare-seeking behavior for emergency obstetric conditions. However, the lower levels of awareness observed among younger women and in psychosocial and nutritional risk domains highlight the need to strengthen antenatal education and perinatal emergency care strategies with a more comprehensive and holistic focus.