Evaluation of knowledge and practices regarding pre-eclampsia among health care providers in the Northern regions of Ghana: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-related illness that usually manifests during the twentieth week of gestation and is characterized by elevated blood pressure and proteinuria. It causes damage to essential organs and is a major global cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Studies on medical professionals’ awareness of preeclampsia in Africa and around the world show that different contexts require different levels of comprehension. Available data suggest that most people have misconceptions about the disease, hence this study aimed to assess the impact of healthcare professionals’ knowledge on the incidence and control of the disease in selected health facilities in the Northern and Savannah regions of Ghana. This was a cross-sectional study in which data from 339 health care workers on knowledge and practices on pre-eclampsia in health care facilities located in the Northern part of Ghana were collected by means of a structured questionnaire. The results showed substantial gaps in knowledge about the signs and symptoms of PE. There was a varying degree of knowledge of the signs and symptoms, ranging from 46.0% to 62.0%. With regards to good practice score, 65.0% of health professionals with post-secondary education had a good practice score as compared to 14.3% of those with Senior High School or lower. This study highlights critical gaps in the knowledge and practices of healthcare providers regarding pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in the Northern and Savannah Regions of Ghana. The findings demonstrate a significant relationship between higher educational attainment and improved knowledge of pre-eclampsia.