PERCEPTION AND HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR FOR OBSTETRIC COMPLICATIONS AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE

(A CASE STUDY OF ZARIA METROPOLIS, KADUNA STATE)

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Author

Presented To

Department of Medicine

ABSTRACT
The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 400 respondents. Interviewer administered structured questionnaire consisting of four sections was the instrument used to collect data which was analyzed using SPSS version 22 and presented using descriptive and inferential statistics. Chi square tests were used to determine relationship between variables and level of significance. Findings revealed that most respondents had a good perception regarding occurrence of obstetric complications during pregnancy, labour and delivery, with an aggregate mean Likert scale score of 4.54, which was greater than the constant mean score of 2.5, indicating good perception. The main symptoms experienced during pregnancy, labour and post-partum were dizziness, swollen hands and face and severe bleeding respectively. Most women had a positive health seeking behaviour as evidenced by attendance of ANC clinic visitation (70.5%), usage of routine medications (59.0%, 65.0% and 68.3% for iron, folic acid and malaria prophylaxis respectively), and choice of hospital delivery during last pregnancy (56.8%).Financial constrain was the most stated reason for non-utilization of medications and husbands were the main decision makers pertaining hospital visits. There was a significant relationship between perception of obstetric complicationsand onset of antenatal care in last pregnancy, frequency of ANC clinic visits, usage of routine haematinics, usage of malarial prophylaxis and preferred place of next delivery. There was however no significant relationship between perception of obstetric complications and attendance of antenatal care during last pregnancy, and also place of last delivery.Based on these findings, the study recommends amongst others that ongoing health awareness campaigns by both government and non-governmental organizations regarding obstetric complications should be intensified for maximum coverage, and the Federal Government should be willing to commit adequate resources to meet the needs of the health system in order to reduce the prevalence of obstetric complications and by extension maternal mortality.