Knowledge and Practice of Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness among Rural Mothers: A Cross-Sectional Study on 17 Villages of South Karnataka

Background: Birth-preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) is an evidence-based strategy for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice regarding BPCR and the associated factors among rural women in south Karnataka. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 mothers who had delivered in the previous year were randomly selected from 17 villages near Bangalore, south India and interviewed using the JHPIEGO BPCR Tools and Indicators for Maternal and Newborn Health from 2016 to 2017. The association between various exposure variables and knowledge and practice of BPCR was investigated with Chi-square test and Fischer’s exact test; a P value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The proportion of women with adequate knowledge and practice of BPCR was 8% and 38%, respectively. All women identified a health facility for delivery, 73% arranged advance emergency transport, 50% saved money; however, only 4% identified a potential blood donor in spite of 88% being aware of their blood group. Though severe bleeding was a commonly stated danger sign, prior arrangement for blood was not practiced. This issue is of public health importance as haemorrhage continues to be one of the leading causes of maternal mortality. Conclusion: The knowledge and practice of BPCR among rural women who had delivered in the previous year were low. Knowledge and practice of BPCR were associated with higher maternal education and higher socio-economic status. It is recommended that pregnant women and their families receive information regarding BPCR during routine antenatal visits and during home visits from village level workers.