The maternal health knowledge of pregnant women attending the antenatal clinics in the Western Cape: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Maternal health knowledge enables pregnant women to access, understand and apply health information to support maternal and foetal well-being, while inadequate knowledge may impair caregiving and lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Aim: This study aimed to assess maternal health knowledge and identify associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in the Western Cape. Setting: The study was conducted in three antenatal clinics in the Western Cape, South Africa. Methods: A descriptive survey was conducted from August 2022 to November 2022 among 248 pregnant women using a researcher-administered questionnaire incorporating the validated 21-item Maternal Health Literacy Inventory in Pregnancy scale. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29. Descriptive statistics and the Mann–Whitney test were employed to examine the associations between demographic characteristics and maternal health knowledge. Results: Respondents demonstrated low to moderate maternal health knowledge (mean = 58.50/100, standard deviation [s.d.] = 13.79, with over half (51.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 45.0–57.4) classified as having problematic levels of maternal health knowledge. The highest ratings for knowledge were for foetal well-being (mean = 3.33, s.d. = 0.65) and lowest for postnatal care (mean = 3.26, s.d. = 1.17). Higher knowledge score was significantly associated with secondary or higher education (χ2 = 3.570, p < 0.001) and living with others (χ2 = 4.568, p = 0.028). Conclusion: Maternal health knowledge was inadequate, highlighting the need for strengthened and targeted maternal health education, especially for less-educated women and those living alone. Contribution: The study provides evidence to guide healthcare practitioners and programme planners in improving maternal health education in antenatal clinics in the Western Cape.