Assessment of birth preparedness and complication readiness among pregnant women attending the Obs/Gynae ward in two teaching hospitals in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge of pregnant women receiving antenatal care at the study sites about birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) and their knowledge about warning signs during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2018 to April 2019 in two teaching hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan. Pregnant women aged 15-49 years were recruited after consent. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. RESULTS: Among 170 enrollees, 72.4% had not heard about BPCR. Transportation arrangements were done by 4.7%, blood donor arrangements by 10%, saving for emergency by 22.4%, and 42.4% identified a skilled provider. Prior selection of a health facility for delivery were done by 65.9%, and 71.8% received four or more antenatal visits. Vaginal bleeding (68%), placenta not delivered within 30 minutes of delivery (62.9%), and vaginal bleeding ( 51.8%) were reported as warning signs during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum, respectively. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of BPCR and warning signs during all three phases of pregnancy was low. The increased antenatal visits are an opportunity to educate the mothers about BPCR and warning signs.