Knowledge and practices: Risk perceptions of COVID-19 and satisfaction with preventive measures at workplace among maternity care providers in Pakistan

Izhar, Rubina; Husain, Samia; Tahir, Muhammad A.; Husain, Sonia

INTRODUCTION: While all healthcare services across the globe deferred non-urgent surgeries, labor wards provided maternity care during the pandemic continuously. This study assesses the knowledge and practices of obstetricians and midwives about personal protective equipment (PPE), their risk perception of COVID-19 and satisfaction with the preventive measures adopted at their workplace. METHODS: A questionnaire, designed according to the World Health Organization’s advice on rational use of personal protective equipment for COVID-19, was administered to 452 Pakistani maternity care providers between 1 July and 30 July 2020. RESULTS: Only 32% of pregnant women had a good compliance to their routine antenatal drugs while forgetfulness (27.2%) and vomiting as a side effect of a drug (25.7%) were the major barriers to compliance with routine drugs. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant association between respondents’ compliance with antenatal drugs and number of children as well as level of income (p<0.001). No statistically significant association was found between education level and compliance. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses and other health workers should support pregnant women to set reminders for taking their medications and prescribe alternative dosage forms or products that will not induce vomiting. In addition, antenatal education should emphasize the benefits of adherence to routine taking of medications at every stage of pregnancy and the possible negative consequences of non-compliance.