Knowledge of Pregnancy Warning Signs

% of women of reproductive age who are able to state at least three warning signs during pregnancy

The indicator assesses the proportion of women of reproductive age aware of at least three warning signs during pregnancy – a key pre-condition for seeking timely and appropriate care.

Collect the following data by conducting individual interviews with a representative sample of women of reproductive age:

  

RECOMMENDED SURVEY QUESTIONS (Q) AND POSSIBLE ANSWERS (A)

Q1: During pregnancy, a woman may encounter severe problems or illnesses which require her to go or be taken to a health facility immediately. What symptoms would cause you to immediately go to a health facility for a medical examination?  

A1: _

1) vaginal bleeding

2) fast/ difficult breathing

3) high fever

4) severe abdominal pain

5) headache/ blurred vision

6) convulsions

7) foul-smelling discharge/ fluid from the vagina

8) baby stops moving

9) leaking brownish/ greenish fluid from the vagina

10) swelling of face, hands or feet 

 

Note: If less than three signs are stated, keep probing: “Are there any other warning signs you know?”

 

To calculate the indicator’s value, divide the respondents aware of at least three of the pre-defined warning signs by the total number of respondents.  Multiply the result by 100 to convert it to a percentage.

Consider disaggregating the data by location (rural/ urban), socio-economic characteristics (education level, wealth quintile) and the number of respondent’s children (none, one, two, three, four …).

1) Consider using a slightly revised indicator for assessing the knowledge of important family members, such as their mothers-in-law, mothers or husbands.