ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS BIRTH PREPAREDNESS AND COMPLICATION READINESS AMONG WOMEN IN MEKELLE, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA: DESCRPTIVE CROSSECTIONAL

Background: Birth preparedness and complication readiness (BP/CR) are interventions designed to address the delays by encouraging pregnant women, their families, and communities to effectively plan for births and prepare for emergencies. Objective: To assess the knowledge and practice towards birth preparedness and complication readiness among women in Mekelle town, 2013. Methods and Materials: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in 2013 on a sample of 220 women. Data were collected using pre-tested and structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS for windows version 16.0 and result of the study is presented using texts, tables and graphs. Result: Out of 220 total participants, 145 (66%) mention at least one key danger sign during pregnancy and 42 (19%) mention at least two pregnancy danger signs. Sixty eight (44%), 46 (30%), 22 (14.3%), 17 (11%) of the respondents have been practiced or currently practicing in preparing identify birth place and assistance, items needed for safe delivery, transportation plan, and saving money as an element of BP/CR, respectively. Seventy four percent of the respondents got/ getting encouraging factors on their BP/CR practice whereas 14% had faced/ facing obstacles on their BP/CR practice.