Assessment of Knowledge and Practices Regarding Gestational Hypertension among Pregnant Women in Kirar Khan Village, Hyderabad

Abstract

More than 6–8% of pregnant women develop gestational hypertension (GH) that puts them at risk of developing complications like preeclampsia or preterm labour. In the remote communities such as Kirar Khan Village, Hyderabad most of the expectant women do not know about GH due to low healthcare literacy and cultural influences. The purpose of this research was to assess the knowledge and practice concerning gestational hypertension among pregnant females living in Kirar Khan Village, Hyderabad. A cross-sectional study was carried out between July and September, 2024, using the validated self-administered questionnaire and 60 pregnant women convenience sample. Data in the current study were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS) version 23. Demographic analysis showed that out of all the participants 40% belonged to the age group of 26-30 years and 62% had no formal education. Married captures the highest percentage at 91.7% and high income at 38%. Awareness of GH was poor; while only 16.7% recognized that multiple pregnancies as a risk factor for GH, 63% of the respondents appreciated that GH was a preventable condition. Worryingly though, 51.7% of respondent said they will rather self-medicate than seek professional help, but 60% said they will consult a medical practitioner if he or she gets symptoms. These findings underscore the rationale for specific educational interventions. Given these finding, the study established that there are knowledge and practice deficiencies concerning gestational hypertension among the pregnant women in Kirar Khan Village. Such efforts should demystify issues and encourage proper behaviors especially those related to the endemic area. This will involve working with stakeholders in healthcare as well as community opinion makers in order to ensure better maternal health status and fully extending healthcare options for the women.