Maternal knowledge about long-term consequences of pregnancy complications - a cross-sectional study

Pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, obesity, and gestational diabetes mellitus are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) later in life. This study aimed to evaluate mothers' knowledge about these complications, their potential long-term consequences, and the education they received regarding cardiovascular risks.

This cross-sectional study involved mothers who gave birth at a tertiary academic hospital. Participants completed an online questionnaire, and frequencies of demographic data, pregnancy-related information, and knowledge about long-term risks were calculated. Knowledge was categorized using Bloom's cut-off based on responses to 25 questions regarding CVD risk factors, and associations between Bloom's knowledge categories and various independent categorical variables were analyzed using the Pearson Chi-squared test, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.

From May to August 2024, 774 women were contacted, with 144 responses included in the analysis. The mean age of participants was 36 ± 4.9 years. Over half reported moderate knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors. Notably, 73% were unaware of the increased risk of CVD following pregnancy complications, 72% lacked knowledge of potential long-term adverse outcomes, and 73% did not receive educational interventions regarding long-term risks upon hospital discharge.

The study identified a significant gap in women's understanding of the increased CVD risks associated with pregnancy complications. Furthermore, the educational interventions provided at discharge were either lacking, insufficiently detailed, or not memorable enough for mothers to retain essential information.