How Aware are our Pregnant Women?

Introduction Pregnancy and childbirth, although, a normal physiological phenomenon in the life of women, yet many die from pregnancy-or childbirth-related complications globally every day. Aim To assess level of Knowledge regarding obstetric danger signs among pregnant women and study the effect of socio-demographic variables on the knowledge of obstetric danger signs among pregnant women. Methodology All pregnant females who were registered during the period of study at five sub-centers (Shanapora, Theed, Ishbar-Nishat, Nandpora, and Hazratbal) of the Block Hazratbal were approached. A total of 153 females were included. Results All women had at least knowledge about two danger signs of pregnancy. The current study reveals that 87 % of females knew vagina bleeding, 84 % knew decreased fetal movements and 63 % knew increased blood pressure in pregnancy as danger signs of pregnancy. The main factors that were found to have statistical association with knowledge about danger signs were educational status, socio-economic class and parity of the pregnant females. Conclusion The health education of pregnant women regarding obstetric danger signs should be encouraged through various mass media, IEC activities at community level with involvement of ANM, ASHA and other health care providers.