KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF ANEMIA PREVENTIVE MEASURES AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINIC AT FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, OWO, ONDO STATE.
Abstract
: Anemia during pregnancy is a critical global public health issue linked to severe maternal and perinatal complications, yet its burden remains high in developing regions due to structural and educational gaps.
Objective: This study assessed the knowledge and practice of anemia preventive measures among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, Ondo State.
Methods: Utilizing the Health Belief Model, a descriptive cross-sectional design was deployed. Simple random sampling was used to select a sample size of 131 pregnant women ($n=131$ derived via the Taro Yamane formula). Data were gathered through a self-structured questionnaire and analyzed via IBM SPSS version 23 using descriptive statistics and Chi-Square tests at a 0.05 level of significance.
Results: The findings revealed that 94.7% of respondents possessed a good level of knowledge regarding anemia, and 93.9% exhibited adequate preventive practices. A significant statistical relationship was established between a mother's knowledge level and her adherence to preventive practices ($p = 0.001$, $p < 0.05$).
Conclusion: Expectant mothers at FMC Owo display high levels of awareness and preventive behavior; however, continuous targeted education and healthcare collaborative efforts remain essential to sustain these outcomes and eradicate the global burden of maternal anemia.
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