Comprehension, viewpoint and precautionary measures against covid-19 among pregnant women attending ante-natal care at a tertiary health facility in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory tract infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 due to physiological and immunological changes in pregnancy. Understanding their knowledge and preventive practices is essential for guiding maternal-health interventions. This study assessed the knowledge, perceptions, and adoption of preventive measures against COVID-19 among pregnant women attending antenatal care at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja. METHOD: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from July to September 2021 among pregnant women selected through multistage sampling. Using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire we obtained data on knowledge, perceptions and preventive practices from 120 women participated. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 28 and summarized as descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Awareness of COVID-19 was high (95.8%) among pregnant women. Most respondents demonstrated adequate knowledge of transmission and prevention, including hand hygiene (99.2%), avoidance of crowds (92.5%), and isolation measures (90.0%). Misconceptions persisted, particularly regarding breastfeeding. Only 35.0% agreed that COVID-19 positive mothers can safely breastfeed, while 42.5% were unsure. Vaccine willingness was moderate (54.2%), reflecting hesitancy despite overall good knowledge. CONCLUSION: We found high level of awareness and generally positive preventive attitudes toward COVID-19 among pregnant women, but gaps remain in breastfeeding knowledge and vaccine acceptance. Targeted health education and strengthened ANC counselling are needed to address misconceptions and support consistent adoption of preventive practices.