Factors determining knowledge and preventive practices within the COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant women at public health facilities in Ethiopia: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Due to fear of the coronavirus pandemic, which directly threatens both the mother's and unborn baby's health, pregnant women may have skipped out on their prenatal appointments at medical facilities. Our objective was to assess knowledge, preventive practice, and associated factors in regard to COVID-19, among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) at public health facilities of the East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia, in 2020. METHODS: Between 1 December and 30 December 2020, 847 pregnant women participated in a multicenter crosssectional study. A pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data, which were then input into Epi Data version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationships between knowledge, COVID-19 prevention practices, and predictor variables. Statistical significance was determined using an odds ratio with a 95 per cent confidence level and a p-value of 0.05. RESULTS: The study findings were that urban residence (AOR=1.91; 95% CI: 1.30-2.79), being a civil servant (AOR=2.29; 95% CI: 1.20-4.37), having secondary school education level (AOR=1.96; 95% CI: 1.14-3.40) or college and above (AOR= 2.97; 95% CI: 1.56-5.65), and favorable attitude (AOR=2.10; 95% CI: 1.51-2.91), were the factors of knowledge towards coronavirus infection. Urban residence (AOR=1.54; 95% CI: 1.07-2.22), being a civil servant (AOR=1.81; 95% CI: 1.02-3.20), a merchant (AOR=1.86; 95% CI: 1.16-2.99), or employed in the private sector (AOR=1.97; 95% CI: 1.07-3.64), and having medical problems (AOR=1.69; 95% CI: 1.07-2.65), adequate knowledge (AOR=1.67; 95% CI: 1.23-2.28) and favorable attitude (AOR=1.74; 95% CI: 1.26-2.42), were positively associated factors against the coronavirus pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Attendees at ANC had a generally adequate level of awareness of pregnant women, but there was a poor application of COVID-19 prevention strategies. To break the chain of transmission, increased education and implementation of preventive measures will be necessary. Continuous health education for people with medical issues, those without formal education, housewives, and rural residents should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]