Knowledge and Attitude Towards Optimal Gestational Weight Gain and Associated Factors Among Women Attending Antenatal Care Service In Holeta Public Health Facilities, Ethiopia,

Abstract

Introduction: Gestational weight gain is explained as a weight change from the last menstrual period to term pregnancy. Women with increased age, educational status, income, and late gestational age had good knowledge and favorable attitudes regarding GWG and factors associated with gestational weight gain. There was shortage of reference on the knowledge and attitude of pregnant women towards gestational weight gain in our setting. Objective: To assess knowledge and attitude towards gestational weight gain and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Holeta public health facilities, Holeta Central, Ethiopia, 2023. Method and materials: An institution-based-based-sectional study was designed and conducted, and the study was carried out from March 1 to 30, 2023. Pregnant women who were selected from each health facility by Systematic random sampling were our study participants. The final sample size was 365. The sample size was proportionally allocated to all health facilities included in the study. Data was collected using pretested interview-administered structured questionnaires, interred in Epi Info statistical software version 7.2, and exported to SPSS version 21 for final analysis. Descriptive statistics such as percentage, frequency distribution, mean, ratio, and standard deviation of different characteristics were calculated. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the associations between dependent and independent variables. The Hosmer and Lemeshow test was applied to test the logistic regression model for goodness of fit. Variables with a P value < 0.25 were entered into multivariable logistic regression to control the cofounders. A P-value of 0.05 was used as the criterion for statistical significance, and an AOR with a 95% confidence interval was used to check the strength of the association. Result: The response rate for all study participants was 96.9%. Among study participants, 201 (56.8%) had good knowledge and 169 (47.7%) had a positive attitude towards gestational weight gain. Age groups 25-29 were 1.55 (AOR = 1.553; 95% CI: 1.55(1.020-2.358)) more knowledgeable than other age groups. Multipara pregnant women (AOR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.33 (1.216-2.508)) are more likely to have a favourable attitude toward gestational weight than primipara. Conclusion: study concluded that 57% of pregnant women had a favorable attitude, and more than half (52.3%) had good knowledge about the recommended gestational weight increase. Health care workers should educate pregnant women gestational weight gain.