EFFECT OF EDUCATIONAL TRAINING SESSION ON OBSTETRIC DANGER SIGNS IDENTIFICATION KNOWLEDGE AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN RURAL PART OF DISTRICT NOWSHERA

Abstract

Pregnancy and childbirth are critical phases in a woman’s life that can be accompanied by multiple complications such as headache, epigastric pain, blurred vision, severe abdominal pain, convulsions, preterm labor, high-grade fever, and rupture of membranes. If these obstetric danger signs go unrecognized and untreated, they can lead to increased maternal morbidity and mortality. Awareness and understanding of these signs are crucial for timely management and seeking of appropriate care.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the effect of an educational training session on the knowledge of pregnant women regarding the identification of obstetric danger signs in the rural part of District Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Rural Health Center, Kheshgi Payan, District Nowshera. A total of 71 pregnant women (gestation >8 weeks) were recruited using a convenience sampling technique. Educational interventions were administered over a period of three weeks, and post-intervention data were collected after one week. A structured questionnaire was used to evaluate knowledge before and after the intervention.

Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in participants’ knowledge following the educational sessions. The mean knowledge score increased from 9.23 (pre-intervention) to 13.90 (post-intervention), with a p-value of 0.000, indicating a strong positive effect of the intervention.

Conclusion: Educational training significantly enhanced the pregnant women’s knowledge of obstetric danger signs. Incorporating such educational sessions into routine antenatal care is recommended to reduce maternal risks and improve health outcomes