Knowledge and Preconception Care Seeking Practices among Reproductive-age Diabetic Women in Zambia

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Pre-existing diabetes is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, yet much is unknown about knowledge of preconception care among diabetic women. Preconception Care (PCC) is the health interventions to women and couples before conception to reduce poor maternal and child health outcomes. The objective of this study was to examine the knowledge and preconception care seeking practices of diabetic women in the reproductive age. Methods: The study was conducted at the University Teaching Hospital and Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. A cross- sectional hospital based study of 114 diabetic women between 15-45 years old was conducted between March and May 2017. Data were collected using structured questionnaires during face-toface interviews. Data were entered using Microsoft Excel and then exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. The Chi-square test was used to determine the association between knowledge levels and identified factors; these were further analyzed using binary logistic regression to determine the adjusted odds of poor knowledge. Results: The findings showed that 52.6% of diabetic women that participated in the study had poor knowledge of preconception care. The identified independent factors associated with poor knowledge on preconception care were women receiving a level of education up to primary education only [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 4.54, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) (2.23, 9.27)], and women that had ≤ 1 year duration of diabetes diagnosis [AOR 3.21 95% (1.35, 7.65)]. About 67% of the participants with a history of being pregnant after diagnosis of diabetes did not seek preconception care. Conclusion and Implications for Translation: The study indicated poor knowledge level as well as poor practice of seeking preconception care within diabetic women attending the University Teaching Hospital and Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. There is a need to explore the establishment of clinical guidelines and policies that will allow the dissemination of pregnancy related advise to diabetic women. As soon as women of the reproductive age were diagnosed with diabetes they should be aware of the PCC, and information dissemination through health centers is vital to encourage women to seek PCC when pregnancy is desired.