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. 2022 Jun:72:103091.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103091. Epub 2022 Apr 6.

Knowledge, perceived threats and protective behaviour related to COVID 19 among pregnant women

P Indumathi  1 , Dharitri Swain  2 , Priyadarshini T  3 , Jaison Jacob  4 , Rasmita Tigga  5
Affiliations

Knowledge, perceived threats and protective behaviour related to COVID 19 among pregnant women

P Indumathi et al. Asian J Psychiatr. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Pregnancy is usually a period of joy, happiness, and expectation for a baby. However, COVID-19 changed the priority and created an environment of worry, perceived threats, and increased protective behaviour to safeguard mother and baby against COVID-19.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess, the level of knowledge, perceived threats, protective behavior, and factors affecting protective behavior among pregnant women by using a convenient sampling technique. The questionnaire collected the demographic profile, knowledge related to the risk factors of COVID-19, perceived treats (severity and susceptibility), and protective behaviors adopted by pregnant women.

Result: Among the 325 pregnant women, knowledge was high (50.5%), the highest relative Importance Index for perceived susceptibility and severity was coming to hospital visits (0.64), and the belief that COVID-19 is a severe health problem (0.81) respectively. Around 69.8% had followed COVID appropriate protective behaviors. The study also revealed that, a high level of knowledge (AOR=2.45, 95%CI:1.45-4.13) and having a university education (AOR= 2.91, 95%CI:1.62-5.22) had a significantly higher probability of adapting COVID appropriate behavior among pregnant women.

Conclusion: This study emphasizes the need to streamline communication and adequate education for pregnant women which can help reduce perceived threats and improve protective behavior.

Keywords: COVID 19; COVID appropriate behavior; Perceived treats; Pregnant women; Protective behavior.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
reveals that 50.5% of participants had a high level of knowledge regarding COVID-19 risk factors, 60.9% of the participants had perceived that they are highly susceptible to being infected with COVID-19 infections, 82.5% agreed COVID-19 infections would lead to severe outcomes (perceived severity) and 69.8% had appropriate protective health behavior.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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