Knowledge, attitude, and practice of preconception care and associated factors among obstetric care providers working in public health facilities of West Shoa Zone, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

by Hawi Abayneh, Negash Wakgari, Gemechu Ganfure, Gizachew Abdissa Bulto

Preconception care is biomedical, social, and behavioural care provided for a woman or couple before conception occurs or throughout their reproductive year. In Ethiopia, it’s reported that the majority of health care providers had poor knowledge and practice of preconception care. The institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 359 obstetric care providers to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of preconception care in West Shoa Zone, Ethiopia. A stratified, simple random sampling technique selected five hospitals, 46 health centers, and study participants. Pretested and structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Data were entered into Epidata and exported to SPSS for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were employed to identify an association between the independent predictors and the outcome variables. In this study, 173(48.2%) and 124(34.5%) of the obstetric care providers had good knowledge and practice of preconception care, respectively. Two-thirds 255(71%) of providers had a favorable attitude toward preconception care. The odds of having good knowledge were higher among Midwives’ providers [AOR: 2.03, 95%CI: 1.09–3.77] and had training on HIV testing [AOR: 3.5, 95%CI: 1.9–6.4]. The presence of a library [AOR: 1.7, 95%CI: 1.04–2.85] and internet access [AOR: 3.4, 95%CI: 2.0–5.8] in working health facility had a higher odds of good knowledge about preconception. Degree and above holders [AOR: 3.1, 95%CI: 1.5–6.1] also had higher odds of good preconception knowledge than diploma holders. Similarly, the odds of having good practice of preconception care were higher among health care providers: who did screening for reproductive life plans [AOR: 3.7, 95%CI:1.8–7.4], worked in maternity and child health unit [AOR:4.2,95%CI:2.0–8.6], perceive all health facilities should give preconception care services [AOR:2.3,95%CI:1.2–4.3], and perceive all health care providers should provide preconception services [AOR:3.0, 95%CI: 1.7–5.5]. This study found that more than half of obstetric care providers’ had poor knowledge, favorable attitude, and poor practice of preconception care. Provision of training, carrier development, and installation of internet and library services should be enhanced.