Knowledge of Risk Factors Associated With Spontaneous Abortion among Childbearing Mothers Accessing Antenatal Care Services in Nsukka Local Government Health Facillities

Abstract

The study was conducted to ascertain the knowledge of risk factors associated with spontaneous abortion among childbearing mothers accessing antenatal care services in Nsukka Local Government health facilities. Three specific objectives with corresponding three research questions, and one null hypothesis guided the study. The study adopted the descriptive research design. Population for the study consisted of 4,400 childbearing mothers in Nsukka Local Government health facilities. Sample size for the study consisted of 330 childbearing mothers accessing antenatal care services in Nsukka LG health facilities using multistage sampling procedure (stratified random sampling technique, simple random sampling technique of balloting without replacement and simple random sampling technique) to select a sample of 330 child bearing mothers. The instrument for data collection was Knowledge of Risk Factors Associated with Spontaneous Abortion Questionnaire (KRFASAQ). Frequencies and percentages were used for answering the research questions while Chi-square statistics was used for testing the null hypothesis. Results among others indicated that child bearing mothers possessed moderate knowledge (49.5%) of maternal infection as a risk factor for spontaneous abortion. The Child bearing mothers possessed moderate knowledge (55.5%) of work stress as a risk factor for spontaneous abortion. Knowledge of risk factors associated with spontaneous abortion among childbearing mothers based on age was very low. Also, at .05 level of significance, there was no significant difference in the level of knowledge of risk factors associated with spontaneous abortion among childbearing mothers based on age. Based on the findings, the study recommended that Ministry of Education, in conjunction with the ministry of Health and Ministry of Women Affairs should organize seminars and workshops in health facilities, churches and town halls to enlighten women on causes and prevention of foetal death during pregnancy.