Discussion
This study used a quasi experimental design involving a multimethod educational package at the community level to improve women’s knowledge and attitude to BP and CR. The respondents in both intervention and control arms had inadequate knowledge of danger signs and basic components of BP/CR at baseline. This inadequate knowledge, however, improved significantly in the IG postintervention. Their attitude to BP/CR was not affected by the intervention, though both groups mostly had positive attitude initially.
Similar studies reported that respondents had poor knowledge of obstetric and newborn danger signs at baseline such as those in Ghana,24 northern Nigeria,25 Tanzania,26–28 India,29 Eritrea22 and Nepal.30 In a study in Uganda, respondents’ baseline knowledge of danger signs in pregnancy (study and CGs) and post partum (study group) was high but low for newborn danger signs in both groups.31 Also in another rural study location in Bangladesh, women’s knowledge of newborn danger signs was high but low for the obstetric period at baseline.32 Our respondents had better knowledge of danger signs during labour and delivery. These aforementioned studies also recorded improvements in knowledge of danger signs after the introduction of some form of intervention.
The improved capacity for the women increases the chances of recognising these danger signs prompting the seeking of appropriate care thereby reducing delays associated with maternal and child deaths. The inadequate knowledge levels preintervention also point to deficits from the healthcare providers since most of them used formal healthcare in the previous pregnancy. Health worker training interventions to improve communication during ANC using job aids and guidelines were instrumental in improving women’s knowledge of BP/CR as reported by researchers in west and east Africa.33 34
The marked improvement in knowledge of obstetric and newborn danger signs and components of BP/CR seen among the respondents could be attributed to the multiple educational methods applied in the intervention. Being an urban setting, we leveraged high mobile/smartphone ownership to impart knowledge. Other similar studies were mainly rural, where interpersonal counselling was the mainstay, and improvements were also recorded.22 24 27–32 35 The use of SMS messages was also applied in another urban setting in Tanzania where a very significant improvement in knowledge of BP/CR was recorded in the IG.26 Participatory community-based approach has been promoted by WHO and some studies have reported varying degrees of success.4 22 30 36 37
The most common obstetric danger signs known by our respondents were bleeding (pregnancy), severe bleeding and prolonged labour while they hardly knew foul-smelling vaginal discharge. Some also mentioned convulsions and fast breathing for the newborn. Their inadequate knowledge of basic components of BP/CR was also evident, except for saving money and identifying skilled provider which both had more mentions. The majority of them used formal maternity care services and yet were still deficient in knowledge of BP/CR. There appears to be gaps in the quality of services received at the HFs. Poor quality reproductive, maternal, newborn and child healthcare services and weak health systems contribute to the slow pace of progress and threaten the achievement of SDGs by 2030.38
A similar pattern of knowledge of danger signs was reported in the Ghanian study.24 In that study, only 51.1% of respondents could mention at least three of the danger signs and symptoms during pregnancy. In Tanzania, a large proportion of women in both IG and CGs also could not recall obstetric and newborn danger signs.28 Very poor knowledge of BP/CR components was reported in another study in Uganda and it did not improve significantly after intervention. Respondents in that study also commonly mentioned saving money as a basic component of BPCR.31
Some sociodemographic, economic and obstetric factors namely age, ethnicity, employment status, educational level, monthly income/allowance, number of children and time of last delivery were significant in bivariate analysis. On further analysis, four predictors of adequate knowledge of BP/CR were revealed—ethnicity, employment status and time of last delivery. These results are similar to previous studies, though with some differences. In Tanzania, being of the Mambwe ethnic group predicted improved knowledge of BP/CR among pregnant women.28 The odds of having adequate knowledge were three times higher among our respondents of Yoruba tribe extraction. Lagos state is mainly inhabited by Yorubas, and this may be the common language of delivering health messages generally, including HFs. Thus, non-Yorubas may be missing some important BP/CR information. In northern Nigeria, women who were employed had significantly better knowledge of BP/CR.8 Similarly, the odds of having adequate knowledge were about 2.5 times higher among our respondents who were employed. By virtue of their employment, some women may be more exposed to BP/CR content, hence their better knowledge. They are also more financially empowered to access formal maternity care services and all the benefits including BP/CR counselling. Those who delivered within 6 months prior to the study probably still had fresh memory of the messages they received during their maternity care contacts with health workers. Having adequate ANC and PNC services, in addition to other factors like older maternal age predicted good knowledge of danger signs in Ghana.24 Higher educational level, younger age and living with a partner predicted good knowledge of danger signs in Uganda.31 In east Africa, women with higher educational level had significantly improved knowledge of BP/CR.26 We assume that women were not receiving sufficient BP/CR messages even from the HFs, else, they would not have had such inadequate knowledge. The approach we adopted for the intervention was community-oriented, facilitating knowledge transfer of key messages outside the formal settings, where many women may not go. In addition to the women, significant others such as men and older women who are involved in decision-making on maternity care issues were also exposed to the same messages. They could join the participatory groups led by the MHVs, or also learn from the educative posters, handbills, SMS and video clips on BPCR circulated on WhatsApp platform. Having adequate knowledge of BP/CR should result in better utilisation of formal maternity health services which will go a long way in achieving results with maternal and newborn deaths reduction in Nigeria and other LMICs.
In all, beyond the effectiveness of the intervention, we need to look at sustainable mechanisms for improving knowledge of BP/CR. Quality of safe motherhood messages delivered at HFs, and training and retainment of MHVs in the community are some areas to be considered.
Strengths and weaknesses
Evidence from this research was strengthened by a combination of multimethod educational intervention implemented at the community level, use of a CG, the prospective nature of the study, scientifically sound sampling methodology, measurement of knowledge of ‘key’ danger signs and components of BPCR and spontaneous responses to questions on knowledge of BP/CR. Non-pairing of participants, non-blinding and possibility of recall bias were limitations.