Pregnancy Induced Hypertension Pih Expectant Mothers Care Seeking Behavior In Ekiti-State Nigeria.

In Nigeria women frequently suffer the outcomes of serious hypertensive disorders in pregnancy that may lead to death. Delay in seeking care is a key contributor to worsening the complications of Pregnancy induced hypertension PIH. This study therefore aimed at contributing to the available body of research on the knowledge and Health seeking behaviour among pregnant women 18 to 40 years diagnosed with PIH in Ekiti-state Nigeria. Data was collected through the use of questionnaire from pregnant women who have been diagnosed with PIH. Research findings show that the level of knowledge of pregnancy induced hypertension among expectant mothers aged 18 to 40 years with PIH complications in Ekiti-state Nigeria is so low 15. Again the rate at which they seek healthcare 15.8 calls for urgent attention. In order to checkmate early complications of unmanaged PIH maternal foetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity it is therefore recommended that appropriate health interventions and education programmes for the pregnant women with PIH should be designed by the government of Ekiti-State Nigeria. For interventions to work the knowledge gained via this study would sensitize midwives on knowledge needs of pregnant women with PIH previously unrealized thereby strengthening the quality of antenatal care education. In conclusion there is a significant relationship between the level of knowledge of expectant mothers and the frequency at which they seek health care the point at which they seek healthcare as well as the alternative choices available to them.