Knowledge of preconception care and associated factors among maternal health care providers working in urban public health institutions of Eastern Ethiopia

listen audio

Study Justification:
The study aimed to determine the level of knowledge of preconception care (PCC) and associated factors among health care providers working in public health facilities in Eastern Ethiopia. This is important because the provision of PCC is significantly affected by the health care provider’s knowledge. In Ethiopia, PCC is rare, if even available, as part of maternal health care services. Therefore, understanding the knowledge level and associated factors can help identify gaps and inform interventions to improve PCC provision.
Highlights:
– Out of 410 respondents, 247 (60.2%) had good knowledge of preconception care.
– Factors significantly associated with good knowledge of preconception care included having an educational level of Bachelor of Science degree and above, 5 or more years of work experience, working in a hospital, reading preconception care guidelines, and receiving training on preconception care.
Recommendations:
– Facilitate continuous refreshment training and continuous professional development for health workers to improve their knowledge of preconception care.
– Prepare comprehensive preconception care guidelines for health institutions to ensure standardized and evidence-based practices.
– Encourage health care providers to read preconception care guidelines to stay updated on best practices.
Key Role Players:
– Ministry of Health: Responsible for developing and implementing policies and guidelines related to preconception care.
– Health Training Institutions: Provide training programs and courses on preconception care for health care providers.
– Health Care Facilities: Implement training programs, provide resources, and support the dissemination of preconception care guidelines.
– Professional Associations: Collaborate with the Ministry of Health to develop training materials and organize workshops on preconception care.
Cost Items:
– Training Programs: Budget for organizing continuous refreshment training and continuous professional development for health workers.
– Guideline Development: Budget for the development and dissemination of comprehensive preconception care guidelines.
– Resource Allocation: Budget for providing necessary resources, such as printed copies of guidelines, to health care facilities.
– Workshops and Conferences: Budget for organizing workshops and conferences on preconception care to promote knowledge sharing and capacity building.

The strength of evidence for this abstract is 7 out of 10.
The evidence in the abstract is rated 7 because it provides a detailed description of the study design, sample size, data collection methods, and statistical analysis. However, it does not mention the specific results of the study, such as the prevalence of good knowledge of preconception care among maternal health care providers. To improve the evidence, the abstract should include a summary of the main findings and their implications for practice and policy.

Background: Provision of preconception care is significantly affected by the health care provider’s knowledge of preconception care. In Ethiopia, preconception care is rare, if even available, as part of maternal health care services. Thus, this study aimed to determine the level of knowledge of preconception care and associated factors among health care providers working in public health facilities in Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 March to 1 April 2020. A simple random sampling technique was used to select a total of 415 maternal health care providers. We utilized a structured, pretested, and self-administered questionnaire to collect data. Data were entered into EpiData (version 3.1) and exported to STATA (version 16) for analysis. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. All covariates with a p value ⩽0.20 in bivariate logistic regression were entered into a multivariate logistic regression analysis to control the confounding variables; variables with a p value 75th percentile were marked as MHCPs with “high knowledge of PCC” and those who scored 50th to 75th percentiles were labeled as MHCPs with “medium knowledge of PCC.” The remaining who scored 10 or standard error of >2 was considered suggestive of multicollinearity. No multicollinearity was detected during the analysis. Multivariate analysis was conducted using the Enter method inorder to control the confounders. Hosmer–Lemeshow’s goodness-of-fit test was done to check for model fitness. Omnibus test (p < 0.0001) and Hosmer–Lemeshow’s test were found to be significant (p = 0.536), which indicates the model was fitted. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% CI was estimated to show the strength of the association between the independent variables and the dependent variable after controlling the effects of confounders. Independent variables with a p value <0.05 and which did not include the null value in the 95% CI were declared as having a statistically significant association with the outcome variable.

The study titled “Knowledge of preconception care and associated factors among maternal health care providers working in urban public health institutions of Eastern Ethiopia” aimed to determine the level of knowledge of preconception care and associated factors among health care providers in Eastern Ethiopia. The study found that 60.2% of the respondents had good knowledge of preconception care. Factors associated with good knowledge included having an educational level of Bachelor of Science degree and above, 5 or more years of work experience, working in a hospital, reading preconception care guidelines, and receiving training on preconception care.

Based on the study findings, the following recommendations were made:

1. Facilitating continuous refreshment training and continuous professional development for health workers: Providing regular training opportunities for health care providers can help improve their knowledge and understanding of preconception care.

2. Preparing comprehensive preconception care guidelines for health institutions: Developing clear and comprehensive guidelines for preconception care can serve as a reference for health care providers, ensuring that they have access to accurate and up-to-date information.

3. Reading preconception care guidelines: Encouraging health care providers to read and familiarize themselves with preconception care guidelines can enhance their knowledge and understanding of the topic.

Overall, the study highlights the importance of improving knowledge and awareness of preconception care among maternal health care providers in order to enhance access to maternal health services.
AI Innovations Description
The study titled “Knowledge of preconception care and associated factors among maternal health care providers working in urban public health institutions of Eastern Ethiopia” aimed to assess the level of knowledge of preconception care among health care providers and identify factors associated with good knowledge.

The study was conducted in Harar and Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia, from 1 March to 1 April 2020. A total of 415 maternal health care providers working in public health facilities were included in the study. Data was collected using a structured, pretested, and self-administered questionnaire.

The findings of the study revealed that 60.2% of the respondents had good knowledge of preconception care. Factors associated with good knowledge included having an educational level of Bachelor of Science degree and above, 5 or more years of work experience, working in a hospital, reading preconception care guidelines, and receiving training on preconception care.

Based on the study findings, the following recommendations were made:

1. Facilitating continuous refreshment training and continuous professional development for health workers: Providing regular training sessions and opportunities for health care providers to update their knowledge on preconception care can help improve their understanding and implementation of preconception care guidelines.

2. Preparing comprehensive preconception care guidelines for health institutions: Developing and disseminating clear and comprehensive guidelines on preconception care can ensure that health care providers have access to standardized information and protocols for delivering preconception care services.

3. Encouraging health care providers to read preconception care guidelines: Promoting the importance of reading and familiarizing themselves with preconception care guidelines can enhance health care providers’ knowledge and understanding of best practices in preconception care.

In summary, the study highlights the need for continuous training, comprehensive guidelines, and promoting the reading of preconception care guidelines among maternal health care providers to improve access to and quality of maternal health care services in Eastern Ethiopia.
AI Innovations Methodology
Based on the information provided, the study aimed to determine the level of knowledge of preconception care and associated factors among health care providers working in public health facilities in Eastern Ethiopia. The study found that three out of five maternal health care providers had good knowledge of preconception care. Factors such as educational level, work experience, working in a hospital, reading preconception care guidelines, and training on preconception were significantly associated with good knowledge of preconception care.

To improve access to maternal health, here are some potential recommendations based on the study findings:

1. Facilitate continuous refreshment training and continuous professional development for health workers: Providing regular training and educational opportunities for health care providers can help improve their knowledge and skills in preconception care. This can be done through workshops, seminars, online courses, and other training programs.

2. Prepare comprehensive preconception care guidelines for health institutions: Developing and implementing comprehensive guidelines specifically focused on preconception care can help standardize practices and ensure that health care providers have access to up-to-date information and recommendations.

3. Promote reading of preconception care guidelines: Encouraging health care providers to regularly read and stay updated on preconception care guidelines can help improve their knowledge and understanding of best practices in this area.

To simulate the impact of these recommendations on improving access to maternal health, a methodology could include the following steps:

1. Baseline assessment: Conduct a baseline assessment to determine the current level of knowledge and practices related to preconception care among health care providers in the target area.

2. Intervention implementation: Implement the recommended interventions, such as providing training and educational opportunities, developing guidelines, and promoting reading of preconception care guidelines.

3. Post-intervention assessment: After a certain period of time, conduct a follow-up assessment to evaluate the impact of the interventions on the knowledge and practices of health care providers regarding preconception care.

4. Data analysis: Analyze the data collected during the baseline and post-intervention assessments to compare the changes in knowledge and practices. This can be done using statistical methods such as descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

5. Evaluation and interpretation: Evaluate the results of the data analysis to determine the effectiveness of the interventions in improving access to maternal health. Interpret the findings and identify any areas for further improvement or additional interventions.

6. Recommendations and implementation: Based on the evaluation and interpretation of the results, make recommendations for further actions or interventions to continue improving access to maternal health. Implement the recommended actions and monitor their impact on an ongoing basis.

By following this methodology, it will be possible to assess the impact of the recommended interventions on improving access to maternal health and make evidence-based decisions for future interventions and improvements.

Share this:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Email