Pregnant women’s knowledge of obstetrical danger signs: A cross-sectional survey in Kigali, Rwanda

BACKGROUNDMaternal mortality remains critically high worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The leading causes of maternal death in Rwanda include postpartum hemorrhage and obstructed labor. Maternal recognition of obstetrical danger signs is critical for timely access to emergency care, in order to reduce maternal mortality.OBJECTIVETo assess the knowledge of obstetrical danger signs among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Kigali, Rwanda.METHODSA cross-sectional study was conducted between September and December 2018 at five health centers and one district hospital in Kigali, Rwanda. Pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) services completed a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.RESULTSA total of 382 pregnant women were included in the study. The majority of women (67.8%) were aged 23-35 years, and 44.5% had completed secondary education. Almost half (43.2%) reported traveling more than 30 minutes to reach the health facility; only 23.3% were within 15 minutes of the health facility. Over half (57%) reported attending three or more ANC visits during pregnancy. The majority (85.6%) knew at least one obstetrical danger sign, with nearly half (46.1%) obtaining knowledge of danger signs from midwives and nurses.CONCLUSIONKnowledgeability was significantly associated with the parity and number of ANC visits, though CHW was also a good source of information for pregnant women. We encourage a systematically designed curriculum to teach mothers during their follow-up visits for ANC.