ATTITUDE AND KNOWLEDGE TOWARDS THE PANDEMIC COVID-19 AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, CHATTOGRAM, BANGLADESH

Dr. Farida Yasmin* and Dr. Aphrodity Aurora

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The Novel CORONA virus is now of global concern and a pandemic with non-availability of specific treatment. Due to altered physiological and weakened immunological features, especially pregnant women are high-risk population in any pandemic situation. So why, knowledge and attitude towards this pandemic is very much important for them. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in Gynecology outdoor, Chittagong Medical College hospital, Chattogram, Bangladesh during the period from 1st July to 30th July, 2020. All pregnant women who had antenatal check-up for current pregnancy in the hospital during the study period were the study population. Pregnant women who were not agreed to take part in the study and having complications e.g. mental disorder, hearing difficulty or critically ill were excluded from the study. The sample size was determined by using single proportion formula with the assumption of proportion of knowledge and attitude towards COVID-19 was 50% due to lack of related studies in this hospital. Margin of error (d) 5% and considering no response rate of 5%. The final sample size was 70. Systematic random sampling was applied to select the study population. Based on the hospital report an average 160 pregnant women attend the gynecology outdoor for antenatal checkup in each month. We computed the kth interval which was 2.1~2 of the first two pregnant mother. One mother was randomly selected by using lottery method. Subsequently, we selected and interviewed the study population at every second interval until the required respondents were obtained. Results: 85% and 75% of participants had a good level of knowledge and positive attitude toward COVID-19, respectively. Level of knowledge was significantly associated with participant’s age (25-34 years) (AOR: 95% CI: 65), educational status (AOR: 95% CI: 65), occupation (AOR: 95% CI: 60) and condition of pregnancy (AOR: 95% CI: 55). Whereas age (25-34 years) (AOR: 95% CI: 60), participants husband completed secondary education (AOR: 95% CI: 50) and above (AOR: 95% CI: 60), wanted pregnancy (AOR: 95% CI: 55) and knowledge (AOR: 95% CI: 55) were the significant predictors for attitude. Conclusion: Study shows that a very good number of the participants had a good level of knowledge and positive attitude towards COVID-19. Age, educational status, occupational status, condition of current pregnancy was positively associated with women level of awareness of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19, attitude, knowledge.