ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE REGARDING PREGNANCY-INDUCED HYPERTENSION AMONG HYPERTENSIVE ANTENATAL MOTHERS IN KALLAKURICHI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is one of the leading causes for maternal mortality and morbidity among pregnant mothers in India. PIH is characterized by elevated blood pressure at or above 140/90 mmhg during pregnancy. Adequate knowledge, positive attitude and practises are at most important among the hypertensive mothers for proper management and prevention of maternal and neonatal complications during pregnancy. Objective: To assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practise (KAP) regarding pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) among hypertensive antenatal mothers attending Antenatal clinics in OG department, Government Medical College, Kallakurichi district, Tamil Nadu. Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted to assess the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice among hypertensive antenatal mothers attending antenatal clinics in OG department, regarding PIH using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire for a period of 3months from October to December 2024. The present was done using convenience sampling technique and the final sample size calculated was 101 participants. Data was analysed using SPSS software version 21. Results: A total of 101 antenatal mothers participated in the study, achieving a response rate of 100% with majority of the study participants were more than 20 years of age. Only 27.7% of the respondents had a good level of knowledge while 47.7% were had moderate level of knowledge regarding pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). However, 61.4% were showing positive attitude towards PIH and only 31.7% were having good at practise level among the study participants. There was a significant association between level of education and knowledge about PIH and level of knowledge with practise with p value <0.05. Conclusion: This study showed that there was a substantial gap in the knowledge, attitude and practise among the antenatal mothers with pregnancy induced hypertension visiting tertiary care centre, Kallakurichi district, Tamil Nadu. Most of the mothers don’t have adequate awareness about the warning signs of PIH, complications of PIH during pregnancy with moderate level of attitude and minimal level of practise.