Knowledge and practice of birth preparedness and complication readiness among pregnant women in Kano, Nigeria

Knowledge of birth preparedness and complication readiness in pregnant women is the process of planning for safe delivery and anticipating the action needed in case complications arise. This study was aimed at determining the knowledge of birth preparedness and complication readiness, among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Murtala Muhammad specialist hospital, Kano. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Data was collected using interviewer administered structured questionnaire from 394 pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic. The questions elicited pregnant women’s socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of birth preparedness and complication readiness, and the factors that influence them. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 19 Computer Software. Three hundred and ninetyfour pregnant women were recruited within the period. The mean age ±SD was 26.9±6.21 years. Two hundred and ninety-four pregnant women (75.8%) were aware of the concept of birth preparedness, while 94 (24.2%) were oblivious. A larger proportion of the respondents 237 (60.2%) had the opinion that women can save money to prepare for birth, while 75 (19.0%) believed women should identify mode of transport as part of birth preparedness. Majority of the pregnant women 96 (54%) revealed that their community provides them with transport services as part of assistance during child birth. Educational status is associated with knowledge of birth preparedness (χ2= 4.081, P=0.05). The study revealed that there is fair knowledge of birth preparedness and complication readiness and saving money was the commonest birth preparedness practice known among the respondents.