| Summary: | Background: Disorders during pregnancy, birth and post-birth are leading causes of morbidity and mortality during reproductive age in developing countries. It is imperative that disorders are prevented, if not prevented, recognised, managed timely and appropriately. Since there is limitation to prevention of many disorders, it is essential that women are made aware of disorders, action needed so that they take action. Lack of awareness leads to delay in seeking care. Present article is based on information collected from women of low resource settings.
Objective: To assess the awareness among women regarding disorders which can occur during pregnancy, birth and postbirth.
Methods: Fifteen hundred women(750 rural,750 urban), who presented to prenatal clinic for the first time and who were not sick, were randomly interviewed through predesigned questionnaire in local language, by the social worker who was briefed about the objective of the study.
Results: Very few rural as well as urban women were aware of disorders like anaemia, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, antepartum haemorrhage, preterm labour, prelabour rupture of membranes, abnormal presentations, obstructed labour, fetal distress, postpartum haemorrhage, which are responsible for most of the maternal and perinatal deaths. Only 67(8.9%) rural, 74(9.9%) urban women had some knowledge of one or other disorder. Most commonly known disorder was anaemia. Health providers were the source of knowledge.
Conclusion: In low resource settings, there is lack of awareness amongst women regarding disorders which can be life threatening to mothers and newborns. Action is needed.
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