Knowledge Towards Fetal Movement Counting at Jimma MedicalCenter, Ethiopia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47363/JWHMR/2025(4)130Keywords:
Fetal Movement Count, Pregnancy, Mother, Knowledge, Antenatal Surveillance, Jimma Medical CenterAbstract
Background: Fetal movement counting is a method used by pregnant women to assess fetal well-being, and it is crucial for avoiding bad pregnancy outcomes. Most adverse pregnancy outcomes are associated with the mother's ability to perceive and seek help for abnormal fetal movement counts throughout intrauterine life. Hence, this study aimed to assess the maternal knowledge of Fetal Movement Counts (FMC) among pregnant women in the Jimma University Medical Center, Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study of four hundred five participants was undertaken at Jimma University Medical Center from June 1 to July 30, 2022. A systematic sampling technique was used to gather data from pregnant women who were in the third trimester of pregnancy. A pre-tested questionnaire was employed. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between the dependent variable and predictors. Adjusted Odds ratio, 95% CI, and P-value of less than 0.05 were considered to determine the statistical association.
Results: This study involved 405 participants, with a 95.97% response rate. One hundred twenty-two (30.12%) respondents had good knowledge regarding FMC. Being an urban resident (AOR=.29, 95% CI (.16-.56)), gestational age of 32-36 weeks (AOR=.42, 95% CI (.24-.76)), having a high-risk pregnancy (AOR=5.34, 95% CI (2.46-11.60)) and being seen by a midwife (AOR=2.61, 95% CI (1.49-4.56)) were all statistically significant predictors with good knowledge of FMC.
Conclusion: This study reported that the overall maternal knowledge regarding fetal movement counting was low. Being an urban resident, gestational age of 32- 36 weeks, having a high-risk pregnancy, and getting midwife care were significant factors in this study. Healthcare providers and other concerned bodies should educate pregnant women about fetal movement counts and their benefits during the prenatal period.
