INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Pregnancy and delivery for most women, include physiological and psychosocial changes in the body constituting a major life event. Pregnancy throughout the world is regarded as a perfect normal stage, mile stone to motherhood, and a moment of celebration. However to many, especially in the developing Countries, it is a moment of sadness, pain, disability, and death (Zhianian, Zareban, Ansari, & Rahimi, 2015).
Globally, approximately 830 women die from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications around the world every day and about 99% occur in developing countries (World Health Organization [WHO], 2015).Nearly 80% of the maternal deaths are caused by the five direct obstetric causes namely haemorrhage, hypertension, sepsis, obstructed labour and complications of abortion (WHO, 2015). Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (pre-eclampsia and eclampsia) are considered to be common causes of maternal deaths world-wide, contributing to 18% of the deaths, being the second after haemorrhage as the most common cause of maternal deaths (WHO, 2015).Pre-eclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide (WHO, 2014).
In both developed and developing countries, preeclampsia continued to be a significant public health issue contributing to maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. However, the effect of the disease is felt more severely in developing countries where, unlike hemorrhage and sepsis, medical interventions may be ineffective due to late presentation of pre-eclampsia cases (Osungbade & Ige, 2011).
In Nigeria, pre-eclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity due to late presentation of women at hospital (Onakewhor & Gharoro, 2008). Furthermore, there are frequent severe cases of pre-eclampsia, following delays in identification/management at the community level and further delays in referral and transportation of women to higher facilities when necessary (Onakewhor & Gharoro, 2008).
The opinion pregnant women have toward the cause of their health problems varies, while some view it as a result of traditional black magic or spiritual attack, others have no clue of the cause of their health problem in their pregnant state. These opinion of theirs therefore have effect on their health care-seeking behaviour (Egbuniwe, Egboka, & Nwankwo, 2016). Furthermore, Martina and Franklin (2015), contributed that maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity constitutes a major challenge around the world especially in the developing countries. These are associated with inappropriate health seeking behaviour during pregnancy (Martina & Franklin, 2015).
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which was adopted by the international community in 2000, had ‘improving maternal health’, as one of the eight MDGs. Under MDG five, there have been compliance in reducing maternal mortality by 3 quarters between 1990 and 2015 globally. However, in 2015, despite the significant gains in reduction, an estimated 303,000 maternal deaths occur globally, representing a decline of only 43 % since 1990 (estimated 535,000 maternal deaths) and a similar reduction since the adoption of the MDGs in 2000,(estimated 529,000 deaths) which is still far from the target of 75 % reduction (WHO, 2015).In the Sustainable Development Goals, the achievement of the new targets which is to end preventable maternal and new-born mortality, will require universal access to improved delivery of evidence-based solutions for preventable maternal conditions, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (Bhutta et al., 2014).
Utilization of health care facility by pregnant women include antenatal care (ANC), which is the care a pregnant woman receives during her pregnancy through a series of consultations with trained health care workers such as midwives, nurses, and sometimes a doctor who specializes in pregnancy and birth (Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey [NDHS], 2013). However, an analytical review of recent world health statistics showed that ANC coverage in Nigeria is low and is indirectly correlated with the high maternal mortality ratio recorded. The poor maternal health outcome in Nigeria could be a result of poor utilization of maternal health care services (WHO, 2014).
Most studies of pre-eclampsia (McClure, Saleem, Pasha, & Goldenberg, 2009; Osungbade & Ige, 2011; Shah, 2009) focus on management and treatment of preeclampsia, while few others focus generally on determinants of health care seeking behaviour in pregnancy (Akeju, et al., 2016; Furuta & Salway, 2006; Titaley & Dibley, 2010). However, understanding the individual perceptions, and modifying factors associated with health care-seeking behaviour of women regarding pre-eclampsia is critical in addressing this problembecause even though efforts to minimize and cure the complication of pre-eclampsia have been recorded, additional steps are need to be taken to achieve the preventive goal.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Illness and death related to pregnancy and childbirth are significant health problems in the world especially in developing countries. Nigeria is among the countries with the greatest burden of maternal mortality in the world with 15% (45, 000) of global maternal deaths (Singh, Ahmed, Egondu, & Ikechukwu, 2015), and a high maternal mortality ratio of 814/100,000 live births was recorded for Nigeria (WHO, 2015).According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA, 2016) this is equivalent to about one woman every two minutes and for every woman who dies 20 or 30 encounter complications with serious or long-lasting consequences.
Pre-eclampsia is a problem in Nigeria. A recent statistics carried out in Nigeria shows that, approximately 37, 000 women die annually due to pre-eclampsia and its complications (Adeosun, Ayebatonyo, Ogundahunsi, & Ogunlewe, 2015). In Sagamu, Ogun State, a high maternal mortality ratio of 7, 480/100,000 live births was recorded and pre-eclampsia contributed to about 60% of these deaths. (Olukoya & Sodipo, 2015)
Pre-eclampsia is associated with high risks of maternal complications such as abruption placenta, premature delivery, disseminated coagulopathy, pulmonary oedema, acute renal failure, eclampsia, liver failure, haemorrhage, and maternal death. It is also associated with higher risks of adverse perinatal outcomes such as low birth weight, intrauterine foetal growth restriction, hypoxia-neurologic injury and foetal death. Pre-eclampsia also impacts the social and economic life of a pregnant woman. In addition, infants who are born after a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia are at increased risk of metabolic syndrome, stroke and cardiovascular disease later in life (Brown, et al., 2013; Raymond & Peterson, 2011).
The recognition of pre-eclampsia today is largely healthcare provider dependent, which as a result, the disease still remains essentially unpreventable. Low pre-eclampsia knowledge and lack of information on pre-eclampsia signs and symptoms are closely linked to delay in decision to seek care and ultimately compromises the survival of the mother and expected new-born because they have not understood the need to utilize health care facility for quality care (Adekanle, Adeyemi, Olowookere, & Akinleye, 2015).To improve maternal health, barriers that limit access to quality maternal health services must be identified and addressed at all levels of health system.
Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate individual perceptions, and modifying factors associated with health care-seeking behaviour regarding pre-eclampsia among pregnant women attending ANC in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria, and to determine the extent to which their knowledge, perception of seriousness and susceptibility to pre-eclampsia may contribute to present situation of health care-seeking behaviour.
1.3 Objective of the Study
The main objective of this study is to investigate the factors associated with the health care-seeking behaviours regarding pre-eclampsia among pregnant women attending antenatal centres in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. The specific objectives are to;
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Justification for the Study
Women die from a wide range of complications in pregnancy, childbirth or after delivery especially in the developing world, and amidst these complications is pre-eclampsia, which is one of the major causes of death and disability in Nigeria (Gharoro & Onakewhor, 2008).
Although number of studies and interventions (Akeju et al., 2016; Furuta & Salway, 2006; McClure, Saleem, Pasha, & Goldenberg, 2009; Osungbade & Ige, 2011; Shah, 2009; Titaley & Dibley, 2010), have been carried out in Nigeria to treat and manage pre-eclampsia, the problem still persists and little is known about pregnant women’s individual perceptions towards pre-eclampsia and the modifying factors that are associated with their pattern of health care-seeking behaviour. Therefore, this study will reveal pregnant women level of knowledge about pre-eclampsia, their perceptions, and pattern of health care-seeking regarding pre-eclampsia, thereby equipping them with appropriate knowledge, adequately motivated and encouraged to develop better health care-seeking behaviour for good maternal and perinatal outcome.
In recent years, safe motherhood programs was initiated to focus on improving recognition of complications by family members and traditional providers, as well as facilitating use of skilled care for women with complications, and strengthening the availability and quality of obstetric care. Programs were developed to disseminate messages on recognition of warning signs that may indicate life-threatening complications, planning for transportation to a selected secondary facility if a complication occurs, and saving money to pay for care. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that these strategies work, and care is typically sought too late or not at all (Khlat & Ronsmans, 2009). This study will focus on pregnant women for these interventions to work effectively.
The practice of good health care-seeking behaviour by pregnant women is important as it will help in prompt diagnosis, management, and treatment of any underlying health problem especially pre-eclampsia, which will reduce or halt maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Hence, pregnant women’s individual perceptions regarding pre-eclampsia and modifying factors associated with their pattern of health care-seeking behaviour needs to be explored using the Health Belief Model, so as to identify relevant areas that will facilitate designing appropriate intervention programmes. This constitutes the focus of this study in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria.
During pregnancy, child-birth, or after delivery, women die from several complications. Most of these deaths are avoidable if women are able to identify pre-eclampsia signs, and seek timely and appropriate emergency obstetrics care (Killewo, Anwar, Bashir, Yunus, & Chakraborty, 2006; Mwilike, 2013). The information obtained from this study will give an insight on pregnant women individual perceptions regarding pre-eclampsia and modifying factors (which include socio-demographics and knowledge) associated with health care-seeking behaviour, which will be beneficial to the following;
Pregnant women – This study will reveal their level of knowledge about pre-eclampsia, perceptions, and pattern of health care-seeking, thereby equipping them with appropriate knowledge, adequately motivated and encouraged to develop better health care-seeking behaviour for good maternal and perinatal outcome
Family and Community – Complications from pre-eclampsia affects not only the woman but her family and community at large. When the woman is healthy, the family is happy, and she can contribute her resources to the growth of the community.
Policy Makers – This study might enable policy makers to effectively plan how to combat the avoidable factors in this study that militate against good health care-seeking behaviours among pregnant women.
Public Health – This study might enable the planning of intervention program to be administered to reduce pre-eclampsia related maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. The intervention program will include the development of training materials and posters that emphasize information about pre-eclampsia, training of volunteers to provide health education within the community about pre-eclampsia and the importance of health care-seeking early enough to prevent complications.
1.6 Hypotheses
The following research hypotheses were tested for the study;
H01
: There is a significant relationship between the knowledge of pre-eclampsia and health care-seeking behaviours among pregnant women attending maternity centres in Sagamu, Ogun State.H02
: There is a significant relationship between perceptions about pre-eclampsia and health care-seeking behaviours among pregnant women attending maternity centres in Sagamu, Ogun State.H03
: There is a significant difference in the health care-seeking behaviour regarding pre-eclampsia across variables of study.