Effect of Community Health Education on Mothers in Southern Ethiopia
Introduction
Increasing mothers’ understanding of obstetric danger signs (ODS) and promoting birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) are vital for improving maternal health services in low-income countries. Health education interventions (HEI) led by women’s groups could be an effective way to achieve this. However, there has been limited research on how these specific interventions impact knowledge and practices.
Methods
This study was conducted from January to August 2023 among pregnant women in 24 clusters in the Sidama region of Ethiopia. We used a smartphone application to gather data and analyzed the outcomes using a robust statistical approach.
Results
– **Participants**: 1,070 pregnant women took part in the study, with a 95.02% response rate.
– **Knowledge of ODS**: 68.7% of women in the intervention group knew about ODS, compared to only 36.2% in the control group (P-value < 0.001).
- **BPCR Practices**: 64.3% of the intervention group practiced BPCR compared to 38.9% in the control group (P-value < 0.001).
- **Key Findings**:
- **Excessive Vaginal Bleeding**: 94.3% in the intervention group recognized it as an ODS.
- **Planning**: 97.1% in the intervention group saved money and materials for birth preparation.
HEI markedly improved the knowledge of ODS (adjusted risk ratio [ARR]: 1.71) and BPCR practices (ARR: 1.55).
Conclusions
Community-based HEI led by women’s groups significantly enhanced mothers’ knowledge of ODS and BPCR practices in rural southern Ethiopia. To effectively improve women’s understanding and preparedness, context-specific HEIs that align with WHO guidelines are necessary.
Clinical Trial Registration
NCT05865873
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