Submit your papersSubmit Now
For Enquiries: [email protected]
IIARD LogoIIARD
📄 Download Paper

Knowledge and Practice of Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension Management Among Antenatal Care Attendees at Primary Healthcare Centers in an Urban Local Government Area, Rivers State

Akani Samuel Nneoma Nyemekworu, Priscilia Nyekpunwo Ogbonda, Anthony Ike, Wegbom

Abstract

Background: Comorbid diabetes mellitus and hypertension in pregnancy significantly increase the risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Knowledge and appropriate management practices are essential to reducing complications, especially in low- and middle- income countries like Nigeria. This study assessed the level of knowledge and practices relating to the management of diabetes mellitus and hypertension among antenatal care attendees in an urban Local Government Area , Rivers State, Nigeria. Methodology: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 306 antenatal care attendees in nine PHC facilities in an urban LGA from December 4th 2024 to January 25th 2025. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and analysed with Stata version 16. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge and practices of the respondents while binary logistic regression was used to determine the predictors associated with knowledge and practice. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 29.85±4.1 years (SE = 0.38), with the majority between 25-35 years. Less than half of the respondents demonstrated good knowledge (48.1%), while more than half of the respondents (56.9%) demonstrated good practice of diabetes and hypertension. Almost nine-tenths (89.6%) of the respondents had heard about diabetes and hypertension primarily from health workers (61.3%) and social media (22.4%). Knowledge was significantly associated with marital status, education level, and average monthly income, while practice was significantly influenced by income, educational background, and gestational age. Conclusion: Although awareness of diabetes and hypertension is high among pregnant women, knowledge depth and management practices remain suboptimal. Targeted health education and counselling should be strengthened during antenatal visits to enhance early detection, lifestyle modification, an

Keywords

KnowledgePracticeDiabetes MellitusHypertensionPregnancyPrimary Health CareRivers State

References

Akinwaare, Margaret & Ejimofor, Nelly & Ojewale, Lucia. (2020). Perception of risk and prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus among pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria. African Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health. 14. 1-9. 10.12968/ajmw.2017.0035. Aliyu, Fullaila & Olatunde, O. & Abdulbaki, Mariam & Bello, S. & Olajide, Qadri. (2024). A Cross-Sectional Study about Demographic and Medical Characteristics of Hypertensive Pregnant Women in Two Secondary Healthcare Facilities, in Ilorin, Nigeria. Libyan International Medical University Journal. 09. 10.1055/s-0044- 1779305. American Heart Association . (2023). Understanding blood pressure readings. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org Anyanti, J., et al. (2020). Knowledge and practices of healthcare workers regarding hypertension and diabetes management in Nigeria. Frontiers in Public Health, 8(1): 654. Asante DO, Dai A, Walker AN, Zhou Z, Kpogo SA, Lu R, Huang K and Zou J (2023) Assessing hypertension and diabetes knowledge, attitudes and practices among residents in Akatsi South District, Ghana using the KAP questionnaire. Front. Public Health. 11:1056999. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1056999 Assessing Knowledge About Pregnancy Induced Hypertension Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Makole Health Center Bada, B.M., Ojewale, L.Y., & Akingbade, O. (2024). Knowledge, Attitude and P erception Towards Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in University College Hospital, Ibadan. Nursing & Midwifery Research Journal, 20, 5 - 20. Baffour, P., et al. (2021). Knowledge and practices of gestational diabetes among pregnant women in Ghana. BMC Public Health, 21(1): 845. Bashir, A. A., et al. (2023). Determinants of antenatal knowledge and practices among pregnant women in northern Nigeria. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23(1): 94. Bear, A. P., Bennett, W. L., Katz, J., Lee, K. H., Chowdhury, A. I., Bari, S., El Arifeen, S., & Gurley, E. S. (2023). Self-reported diabetes or hypertension diagnoses and antenatal care among child-bearing women in rural Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study. PLOS global public health, 3(9), e0002175. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0002175 Byakwaga, E., Sekikubo, M. & Nakimuli, A. Level of and factors associated with awareness of gestational diabetes mellitus among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Kawempe National Referral Hospital: a cross sectional study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 21, 467 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-03927-x Chikeme PC. Gestational diabetes mellitus: Awareness, risk factors, perceived effects, and lifestyle intervention among pregnant women in a Nigerian tertiary health institution. Indian J Med Sci. 2024;76:22-7. doi: 10.25259/IJMS_200_2022 Dissassa, H. D., Tufa, D. G., Geleta, L. A., Dabalo, Y. A., & Oyato, B. T. (2023). Knowledge on gestational diabetes mellitus and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics of North Shewa zone public hospitals, Oromia region, Central Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMJ open, 13(9), e073339. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073339 Edet, Clement & Wegbom, Anthony & Kiri, Victor. (2020). Level of Preparedness for COVID-19 by Primary Healthcare Workers in Rivers State, Nigeria: A Facility Cross- sectional Survey. International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health. 51-60. 10.9734/ijtdh/2020/v41i1330347. Enodegbe J. Immaculate, Okonkwo Chibuzor S., Aigbovbiosa O. Daniel, Emakhu O. Endurance, Egwowa Elo-Oghene M., Akhigbe Mabel O., Okolie C. Obinna, Egogo A. Osemekhian, Uzoma Victory I., Esezobor O. Doris, Uwakwe J. Arinze, Nwodo C. Lovette, Iyere O. Onome, Aideloje O. Cynthia, Orakwe T. Alvin & Akhaine J. Precious. (2025). Knowledge and Perception towards Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at Primary Health Care Facilities in Esan West and Esan Central Local Government Areas in Edo State, Nigeria. Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research, 37(5), 319–329. https://doi.org/10.9734/jammr/2025/v37i55841 Havugimana, D. M., Habtu, M., & Ogendi, J. (2024). Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice towards Prevention of Hypertension among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care Clinic at a District Hospital in Kigali City. Rwanda journal of medicine and health sciences, 7(2), 178–191. https://doi.org/10.4314/rjmhs.v7i2.7 Igbokwe, U., Tsikasom, T., Korfii, U., Rajab, A., Ahmad, N. M., Abdulssalam, A.-F., Umar, I. A., Said, S., Muhammad, D., Musa, I., Adaramati, T., Adeloye, D., Amasiatu, V. C., & Aigbogun, E. (2024). Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Pre-eclampsia/Eclampsia Preventive Measures among Pregnant Women in Selected Primary Health Care Facilities in Kano State: A Cross-Sectional Study. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs- 4034471/v1 Imoh, L. C., Longwap, A. S., Haruna, F. E., Asieba, O. J., Istifanus, J. P., Imoh, J. A., & Banwat, M. E. (2022). Practices and barriers to screening for hyperglycaemia in pregnancy among providers of antenatal care in Jos, Nigeria. African journal of laboratory medicine, 11(1), 1845. https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v11i1.1845 International Diabetes Federation . (2021). IDF diabetes atlas (10th ed.). Brussels, Belgium: International Diabetes Federation. Jiang, Y., et al. (2022). Hypertensive disorders and gestational diabetes: Epidemiology and global burden. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 18, 765–779. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-022-00734-y Ladan, A. A., & Ibrahim, U. A. . (2024). Knowledge of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in North West, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of General Practice, 21(2), 68-77. https://doi.org/10.60787/njgp.v21i2.196 Mahmoud, Z., Orji, I. A., Shedul, G. L., Aluka-Omitiran, K., Ripiye, N., Akor, B., Eze, H., Ojo, T., Iyer, G., Baldridge, A. S., Hirschhorn, L. R., Huffman, M. D., & Ojji, D. B. (2023). Clinical characteristics and treatment patterns of pregnant women with hypertension in primary care in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria: cross- sectional results from the hypertension treatment in Nigeria Program. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 23(1), 416. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05723-1 Mrosso, D.F., Dominick, B., Machimu, A., Mwasi, H., Ramadhani, R., & Mnyoro, T. (2024). Assessing Knowledge About Pregnancy Induced Hypertension Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Makole Health Center. medRxiv. Offomiyor, F. A., & Rehal, S. (2022). Exploring the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Healthy Pregnant Women Towards Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Nigeria. Qualitative Health Research, 33(1-2), 104973232211391. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323221139105 Ogu RN, Maduka O, Agala V, et al. Gestational diabetes mellitus knowledge among women of reproductive age in southern Nigeria: Implications for diabetes education. Int Q Community Health Educ 2020; 40(3): 177–183. Ojukwu C, Ezeigwe A, Madu O, Mba C, Nseka E. Knowledge and awareness of pregnancy- related hypertension and utilization of exercises as its preventive strategies: Survey of pregnant women in Enugu State, Nigeria. Niger J Med. 2021;30:526. doi: 10.4103/NJM.NJM_108_21. [DOI] [Google Scholar] Oladapo, O. T., et al. (2020). Knowledge and practices related to hypertension and diabetes management among women in Nigeria. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 24(3): 58–67. Oparah SK, Ukweh ON, Ukweh IH, Iya-Benson JN.Undiagnosed hypertension and diabetes: Concordance between self-reported and actual profile among traders in Nigerian market. Niger J Med 2021;30:98-104. Shiferaw WS, Gatew A, Afessa G, Asebu T, Petrucka PM, Aynalem YA (2020) Assessment of knowledge and perceptions towards diabetes mellitus and its associated factors among people in Debre Berhan town, northeast Ethiopia. PLoS ONE 15(10): e0240850. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0240850 Soni JS, Oparah AC, Oseji FO, Yakubu VO, Aghahowa MA. Awareness and attitudes of pregnant women towards hypertension in pregnancy. Journal of Science and Practice of Phar

More Articles from INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH

Influence of Secnedazol on the Pharmacokinetics of Diminazene Aceturate in Dogs Infected with Trypanosoma Brucei: A Crucial Study for Enhancing Treatment Efficacy

Author: Azor N.N

Antibacterial Activity of Stem Bark Extract of Boswellia Odorata Against Some Isolates of Wound Among Patients Attending Selected Hospitals in Kano Metropolis

Author: Kamal Abdulkadir Muhammad, Ismaila Ahmed, Lawan Danjuma, Raliya Sulaiman, Dauda, Isah Musa Bebeji, Zubairu Sani Ibrahim, Yahaya Ubah Yau, Binta Kabir, Muhammad, and Mukhtar Aminu Bala, Corresponding author

Distribution and Health-Risk Assessment of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Congeners in Soils from E-Waste and Automobile- Dismantling Sites

Author: Olatunde Adesoji Aladegba, Moshood Ayinde

The Effect of Soaked Cassava Peel Meal Supplemented with Enzyme as Replacement for Maize on the Blood Hematological Characteristics of Broiler Chickens

Author: Okeke Euphemia Ifeoma

Prevalence and Prevention of Health Problems Among Inmates in Agodi Gate Correctional Centre, Ibadan

Author: John Betiku, a, Oluwabunmi Hannah Aremo, b, Emmanuel Olusegun Abe, a, Rachael, Omotomilayo Ajayi, c, Adenike Kaosarat Alabi, d, Kelechi Princess John, d, orcid ---