Maternal Information-Seeking on Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women, in North Ethiopia, A cross sectional study design (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Introduction: - Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is the most prevalent medical problem associated with pregnancy. It has been reported to affect 6–10% of all pregnant women worldwide. A mother's failure to seek information related to PIH would increase the risk of dying from its complications. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess PIH information-seeking behavior and its associated factors among pregnant women in rural Sekela district. METHODS A Community-based cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among pregnant women from May 15 to June 15, 2022. An interviewer administrated structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. It was calculated using the single population proportion formula using design effect, 10% non-response rate. A cluster sampling technique was used to select sampled in the study area. We conducted a descriptive analysis, bi-variable analysis and multi-variable analysis to identify determinants of PIH information seeking RESULTS The proportion of PIH information seeking among pregnant women was 214 (35.43%). Pregnant mother’s age of 35 years and above (AOR =0.67, 95% CI =.46, .97), resistance of family (AOR = 0.45, 95% CI=.29, .69), health care satisfaction (AOR=1.7, 95% CI=1.1, 2.5), and perceived severity of PIH (AOR=1.6, 95% CI=1.1, 2.4) were significantly associated with PIH information seeking. CONCLUSIONS According to our finding Information seeking related to PIH founds to be low. The major source of PIH related information was health care providers. Aged mothers, family resistance, mother’s satisfaction on health care service, perceived severity of PIH were found to be associated with PIH information seeking