Exploring recognition of obstetric danger signs among postnatal mothers in Oyo State Nigeria

Abstract

The study explores the recognition of obstetric danger signs, barriers to their recognition, and the facilitators that support recognition among postnatal mothers in Oyo State, Nigeria. A phenomenological qualitative research design was used to explore the lived experiences of postnatal mothers regarding obstetric danger sign recognition. Twelve postnatal mothers from two primary health facilities in Oyo State were purposively selected. Data were collected via in-depth interviews, recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed using NVivo 12. Sampling continued until data saturation was reached. Findings were organized based on the three key research questions of the study. The recognition of obstetric danger signs generated four major themes: physical and sensory changes, antenatal education, past experiences and traumatic outcomes, and digital media and visual aids. Four major themes emerged for barriers to recognition: cultural and spiritual misinterpretation, family and community influence, illiteracy and low health literacy, and minimization or mislabeling of symptoms. Emerged themes for facilitators of recognition included supportive antenatal education, peer experiences, media and community campaigns, and family encouragement. The recognition of obstetric danger signs is influenced by a complex interplay of knowledge, culture, experience, and support systems. Interventions to improve maternal outcomes should focus on enhancing antenatal education, addressing cultural misconceptions, increasing health literacy, and leveraging both digital platforms and community networks to support early identification and timely response to obstetric danger signs.