KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF WOMEN UTILIZING FOCUSED ANTENATAL CARE AND MATERNAL COMPLICATIONS IN PUBLIC COUNTY HOSPITALS IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Introduction: Focused Antenatal Care is antenatal care that provides individualized counseling, targeted  assessment and provides safe, cost effective, and evidence-based intervention.  

Aim: This study aimed at investigating the knowledge and attitude of women utilizing Focused Antenatal  Care associated with maternal complications in selected public county hospitals in Nairobi City County,  Kenya.  

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study design. A sample of 397 postnatal women interviewed for  the study. Kenyatta University Ethics and Review Committee (KUERC) approved the study and the National  Commission issued the permit for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI). Permission to collect  data obtained from the participating hospitals. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package  for Social Sciences (Version 22.0) Inferential statistics were done using Chi Square tests to determine the  association between study variables at 95% confidence interval (p<0.05).  

Results: The study results revealed that 30% of respondents reported to have encountered a maternal  complication during their current delivery outcome. The study results further revealed that 54.7% of  respondents had high knowledge levels with 63.7% having positive attitude towards FANC utilization.  Knowledge level was significantly associated (p=0.017) with maternal complications among respondents. 

Conclusion: The study concludes that the respondents from Nairobi City County had relatively low  maternal complications. The respondents further had high knowledge levels and positive attitude towards  FANC utilization. 

Recommendation: Scaling up male sensitization and awareness programs towards improved transfer of  correct knowledge on FANC thus signify importance of seeking such services while pregnant.