International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue XI, November 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Knowledge, Attitude and Perception of Pregnant Women Attending a Selected Ante-Natal Care Clinic towards Gestational Hypertension in Lagos State, Nigeria

Oduyoye, Omobola Oyebola^1*, Chukwura, Arinze Michael¹, Chinenye-Julius, Augusta Ezinne¹, Oresegun, Adepeju Aderinsola^2
1Department of Public Health, School of Public and Allied Health, Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria
²Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Faculty of Public Health, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author

Abstract:
Introduction
Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal mortality. PIH affects about 6 – 10% of pregnancies around the world, however, hypertension and proteinuria which exist in preeclampsia are present in 2-8% of all pregnancies. High maternal mortality rate can be linked to inadequate knowledge, negative attitude and poor perception on gestational hypertension in pregnancy among pregnant women. This study determined the knowledge, attitudes and perception of pregnant women towards gestational hypertension in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos state.
Methodology
This study employed a descriptive cross sectional study design. A total sampling technique was used to select 160 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos State. The Instrument for this study was a structured researcher administered questionnaire which was divided into 5 sections. Data were coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 22). Data was analyzed to give descriptive statistics (percentage and frequencies) and inferential statistics (correlation analysis). The level of significance used was 0.05.
Result
About (50.6%) of the respondents were between the ages of 21-25 years, 63.1% had secondary education while 75.6% were married. Almost half (48.8%) were civil servants while majority (75.6%) earned more than ₦20,000. Most (75.0%) of the respondents had good level of knowledge on gestational hypertension and (54.4%) had poor attitude towards prevention of gestational hypertension. More also, more than half of the respondents (55.0%) had good perception towards prevention of gestational hypertension. Furthermore, hypothesis result showed a significant correlation between history of gestational hypertension and predisposing factors (Knowledge r = 0.963, p = 0.000), (Attitude r = 0.327, p = 0.000). and (perception r = -0.199, p = 0.012).
Conclusion
Gestational hypertension in pregnancy has remained as one of the world’s most important health problem. Pregnancy is one of the most important periods of a woman, a family and a society. However, complications during pregnancy especially hypertension have negative effect on the woman and child birth which is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age.

Keywords: Attitude, Gestational Hypertension, Knowledge, and Perception