‘Poor COVID-19 preventive measures in pregnancy can worsen Nigeria’s maternal mortality’

ALTHOUGH a high proportion of pregnant women in Nigeria have the knowledge of COVID-19 infection, at least 70 per cent of them do not adhere to its preventive measures such as regular hand washing with soap and water to avoid the infection, a study has said.

In a research, which spanned a 2-month period, held among 284 pregnant women at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, adhering to preventive measures against person-to-person transmission of coronavirus infection was poor. This was contained in the April edition of the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics.

The preventive measures included regular hand washing with water and soap, social distancing, covering hand and mouth while coughing and avoiding contact with eyes, nose and mouth.

The researchers found out that non-observance of preventive measures was common among pregnant women within the age bracket of 31 to 40 years, married women with more than four childbirths, residing in rural areas with no formal education.

According to the study, many of the women also had inadequate knowledge of what to do on suspicion of any coronavirus infection. Fifty-seven (20.1 per cent) women said they would stay at home; 15.8 per cent reported that they would wear face masks while 4.2 per cent reported that they would inform their health care provider in advance before a visit to the hospital.

Seventy-six (26.8 per cent) participants stated that they practiced frequent hand washing with soap and water while 20.4 per cent informed that they usually observed social distancing.

Avoidance of eyes, nose and mouth contact with the hands was reportedly practiced by 21.5 per cent, whereas 32.7 per cent of the participants used face masks in public.

Pregnant women who had no formal education were six times more likely to have inadequate knowledge of preventive measures against person-to-person transmission of coronavirus infection when compared with those with formal education.

Similarly, women residing in rural settlements were nine times more likely to have inadequate knowledge of preventive measures when compared with participants living in urban areas.

Also, women who were artisans were about thrice more likely to have inadequate knowledge of preventive measures.

Coronavirus disease pandemic has resulted in the death of thousands of people across several countries. Currently, the effect of coronavirus infection in pregnancy is not well described. It is important that vulnerable populations such as pregnant women be protected from the infection.

 

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