When to seek care in pregnancy and childbirth: a study in Uganda

The overall aim of the project was to study pregnant women's knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy and childbirth and actions taken in case danger signs occurred. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. A questionnaire was administered at the antenatal care clinic (ANC). Non-participant observations of the midwives at the ANC were also performed. Individual interviews were conducted with pregnant and newly delivered women as well as with clinical officers. A retrospective study of maternity records was also conducted. A majority of the women attended their first ANC visit late in the pregnancy. Women's general knowledge of danger signs was low. A lack of discrepancy between common pregnancy related and dangerous symptoms was noted. The observations revealed that little or no health education concerning danger signs were given and inadequate examination of the women were conducted. The ANC reaches around 92% off the pregnant women. This provides an ideal opportunity for information on dan...