KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES OF PREGNANT WOMEN TOWARDS ANTENATAL CARE RECEIVED IN UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

This study attempts to examine the attitude and knowledge of pregnant women towards antenatal care received in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin, Edo State. The study adopted a quantitative approach. A total of 100 respondents were selected using stratified random sampling, the research instrument was a semi-structured questionnaire having both open and close ended questions. Three research questions were raised in the course of this study. The findings revealed that the knowledge and attitude of pregnant women receiving antenatal care differs from one another. The findings also revealed that pregnant women who attend antenatal care are faced with demographic, social, and cultural factors which cause challenges in accessing antenatal care. The study recommended that health promoters and educators should include the minimum and maximum antenatal care contact pregnant women are supposed to have according to the WHO recommendations in their education and promotion sessions. The study also recommended that health education programs should be undertaken by communities to improve women’s awareness of antenatal care and that the Ministry of Health should provide antenatal care services such as mobile health care and home care visits for remote villages or those difficult to reach. At the same time, antenatal care services should be affordable, especially for poor pregnant women.