A Study on Awareness of Warning Signs and Complications of Pregnancy in Sylhet and Chittagong in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study was aimed to assess womens’ awareness about danger signs and warning signs as well as complications of pregnancy. It was a survey based study where 154 pregnant women from different area of Sylhet and Chittagong were interviewed with a questionnaire. All the respondent were in second and third trimester. From the study about 54.55% respondents were found with various complication during pregnancy mainly urinary incontinence and uterine abnormalities. In this study a satisfactory level (98.05%) of the respondent knew at least one warning sign and 100% of the respondents knew about at least one danger sign. They have good knowledge about water break (98.05%) and child movement (97.40%). Most of the respondent knew vomiting as a indicative danger sign (75.97%). But they have little knowledge about some warning and danger signs that is quiet dangerous during pregnancy such as prolonged labor (0%), sepsis (1.30%), loss of consciousness(0%) severe headache (9.09%), drainage of liquor (1.95%) and early labor(0.65%). Apparently most of the respondent knew about abortifacient food pineapple(90.91%) and raw papaya (79.87%) and they didn’t know about smoked seafood. They have few knowledge about fish containing mercury (2.60%) and soft cheese (0.65%). All the respondent knew information during pregnancy and most information they came to know from doctor and their family members. Among the respondents 98.05% received antenatal care. Since the respondent number was very poor, to conclude it can be said that it is important to increase the awareness level about complication among the women and therefore further research work should be carried out with more number of respondents.