KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF PRE-ECLAMPSIA AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN FAITH MEDIPLEX HOSPITAL, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

Abstract

Pre-eclampsia remains one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the availability of antenatal care services, many pregnant women still lack adequate knowledge and awareness of pre-eclampsia, which often results in delayed diagnosis, poor management, and preventable maternal and fetal complications. This study was therefore conducted to assess the knowledge and awareness of pre-eclampsia among pregnant women attending Faith Mediplex Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted for the study. A total of ninety-four (94) respondents were selected through a simple random sampling technique and data were and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29 and presented in tables, frequencies, and percentages. The findings of the study revealed that 43.6% of the respondents had heard about pre-eclampsia, while 56.4% had never heard about it. Despite this, a vast majority (88.3%) demonstrated a high overall awareness of risk factors and preventive measures of pre-eclampsia score. The study further showed that 73.4% of the respondents agreed that obesity causes pre-eclampsia and 90.4% identified an unhealthy lifestyle as a major risk factor. However, only 30.9% believed that regular antenatal visits could prevent hypertension during pregnancy, and less than half recognized the importance of fruits in prevention. The study concluded that although most respondents demonstrated a poor level of knowledge, their awareness of preventive measures and specific risk factors remains good. It is therefore recommended that nurses and midwives intensify maternal health education on pre-eclampsia through antenatal talks, posters, and community awareness programs. Word Count: 268 KEYWORDS: Antenatal Care, Awareness, Knowledge, Pre-Eclampsia, Pregnant Women Prevention