Gambian Mothers Lack Obstetric Danger Sign Knowledge, But Educational Intervention Shows Promise.
Kara Shannon1, Jocelyn Burridge2, Brodus Franklin2
1School of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Annals of Global Health
|May 27, 2024
Summary
Maternal mortality in The Gambia is high due to avoidable causes. While women overestimate their knowledge of danger signs (DS), actual recall is low, highlighting a need for improved education interventions.
Area of Science:
- Maternal Health
- Public Health
- Health Education
Background:
- The Gambia faces a high maternal mortality rate, with most deaths preventable.
- Lack of awareness regarding pregnancy danger signs (DS) impedes timely obstetric care.
- App-based educational interventions show potential for improving DS awareness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess Gambian women's awareness of obstetric danger signs (DS).
- To identify barriers to danger sign awareness.
- To evaluate the feasibility of smartphone-based education for danger sign awareness.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey of 100 women in five Gambian hospitals/health centers.
- Data collected via an online survey portal.
- Analysis involved bivariate and descriptive statistics; knowledge categorized as low, moderate, or sufficient based on recall.
Main Results:
- 77% of women had low overall awareness of danger signs, despite 75% self-perceiving sufficient knowledge.
- Education level and monthly income significantly correlated with danger sign awareness.
- 76% owned smartphones and 97% were interested in app-based education.
Conclusions:
- Gambian women demonstrate low actual knowledge of obstetric danger signs, contrasting with their self-perceived knowledge.
- Despite low awareness, appropriate healthcare-seeking behavior was observed.
- Video or messaging-based education delivered by local healthcare providers may be an effective intervention strategy.
