Husband Support Rises Women’s Awareness of Preconception Care in Northern Ethiopia

Abstract EN

Background.

Preconception care (PCC) aims to improve pregnancy and health outcomes of mothers and their offspring.

However, there is no adequate evidence of awareness on preconception care in Ethiopia.

Therefore, the present study was performed to assess the level of awareness and associated factors of preconception care among currently delivered mothers.

Method.

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 561 mothers in Northern Ethiopia.

Data were collected using a pretested, structured questionnaire.

Odds ratio presented with 95% confidence interval, and a p value <0.25 at bivariable and p value <0.01 at multivariable logistic regression were used to declare statistical significance.

Results.

39.0% of mothers were aware of preconception care.

Awareness of preconception care was lower among mothers who did not have joint plan discussion with their partner (AOR = 0.15; 95% CI (0.08, 0.28)); did not have a history of adverse pregnancy outcome (AOR = 0.45; 95% CI (0.25, 0.83)), and did not receive husband support (AOR = 0.10; 95% CI (0.05, 0.19)).

Conclusion.

Women’s awareness of preconception care remains low.

Joint plan discussion with the partner, previous history of adverse pregnancy outcome, and husband support were statistically significant predictors of awareness of preconception care.

Thus, informing and sensitizing women and advocating husband support on preconception care are needed.