ASSESMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND INFLUENCING FACTORS TOWARD PRENATAL SCREENING AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING ANC CLINIC AT SPHMMC, ADDIS ABABA-ETHIOPIA, 2023 G.C: Descriptive Cross sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background Prenatal screening is tests done to identify individuals at risk of having a child with inherited conditions, chromosomal abnormalities or birth defect using sample from fetal tissue, amniotic fluid or fetal anomaly scanning, and is not popular procedure in our country, maternal age, educational background, employment status are suggested to influence knowledge level and attitude toward prenatal screening. Objective: To assess the level of knowledge, attitude and influencing factors toward prenatal screening among women following Antenatal care at St. Paul’s Millenium Medical College during study period. May 1,2023 to August 31,2023G.C. Method: Institutional based cross-sectional study of 356 women visited Antenatal Care at St. Paul’s Millenium Medical College during study period were conducted to assess level of knowledge, attitude and influencing factors toward prenatal screening. Binary logistic regression and multivariate analysis was used to identify influencing factors. Results: - Mean age of participant was 27.8years. The proportions with good knowledge of prenatal screening were 32% and those with positive attitude was 58%. Women with age 35 and above (AOR 3.3;95%CI 1.2-9.5), secondary education (AOR 14.5;95%CI 1.7-121.8), higher education (AOR 41.9 ;95%CI 4.9-358.4), multiparity (AOR 2.5 ;95%CI 1.2-5.2) were significantly associated with knowledge. Government employed women (AOR 5.0 ;95%CI 2.3-10.8), self-employed (AOR 2.3 ;95%CI 1.3-4.1) were significantly associated with the attitude toward prenatal screening. Conclusion and Recommendation: - Compared to most of study done in different country, it’s found out that women attending ANC at SPHMMC were having lower knowledge and attitude score. This study is, the first on this topic in our country with the objective to assess the level of knowledge attitude and influencing factors toward prenatal screening among pregnant women, and I hope this will open door for future further study that could assess large group of pregnant women to find out how well they are informed about all possible investigations in pregnancy.