摘要
<strong>Introduction</strong><strong>: </strong><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Maternal mortality remains a major public health problem in </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">the world. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the main</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> causes </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">of maternal mortality in low-income countries. It is estimated that 15% of</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> deaths are related to these complications. Studies have shown that women </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">have little or no acquaintance on sign danger and complications during</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> pregnancy and childbirth. Limited literature exists on women’s knowledge and attitudes about pregnancy and childbirth’s complications as well as the barriers for their management, therefore necessity to carry out this study. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Objective: </span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">To explore women’s knowledge and attitudes in the community about complications during pregnancy and childbirth. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Method: </span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">A qualitative study was conducted in three prefectures of Guinea. Eighteen focus groups were conducted with women of reproductive age living in urban and rural areas. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Results: </span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are common among </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">pregnant women in Guinea. Many women have knowledge about various</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> sorts </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. These complications </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">were mostly vaginal bleeding, abortions and maternal mortality. The use of a health facility in case of complications during pregnancy and childbirth was reported as a major attitude in this study. Accompanying the woman to the </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">health facility was another attitude identified. Lack of financial means, the</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> distance from the health facilities and the lack of means of transport were listed as barriers to the management of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Conclusion:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> This study showed that women’s knowledge and attitudes about obstetric complications are insufficient. To that effect, women counselling during prenatal consultations on the risks of complications and especially the identification of sign danger during pregnancy and childbirth is </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">essential to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in our less equipped </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">countries.</span></span>
<strong>Introduction</strong><strong>: </strong><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Maternal mortality remains a major public health problem in </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">the world. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the main</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> causes </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">of maternal mortality in low-income countries. It is estimated that 15% of</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> deaths are related to these complications. Studies have shown that women </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">have little or no acquaintance on sign danger and complications during</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> pregnancy and childbirth. Limited literature exists on women’s knowledge and attitudes about pregnancy and childbirth’s complications as well as the barriers for their management, therefore necessity to carry out this study. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Objective: </span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">To explore women’s knowledge and attitudes in the community about complications during pregnancy and childbirth. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Method: </span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">A qualitative study was conducted in three prefectures of Guinea. Eighteen focus groups were conducted with women of reproductive age living in urban and rural areas. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Results: </span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are common among </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">pregnant women in Guinea. Many women have knowledge about various</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> sorts </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. These complications </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">were mostly vaginal bleeding, abortions and maternal mortality. The use of a health facility in case of complications during pregnancy and childbirth was reported as a major attitude in this study. Accompanying the woman to the </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">health facility was another attitude identified. Lack of financial means, the</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> distance from the health facilities and the lack of means of transport were listed as barriers to the management of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Conclusion:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> This study showed that women’s knowledge and attitudes about obstetric complications are insufficient. To that effect, women counselling during prenatal consultations on the risks of complications and especially the identification of sign danger during pregnancy and childbirth is </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">essential to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in our less equipped </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">countries.</span></span>