Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant women in Bangkok, Thailand

Jadsada Kunno; Pataraporn Yubonpunt; Busaba Supawattanabodee; Chavanant Sumanasrethakul; Budsaba Wiriyasirivaj

doi:10.1186/s12884-022-04612-3

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant women in Bangkok, Thailand

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022 Apr 23;22(1):357. doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04612-3.

Authors

Jadsada Kunno¹, Pataraporn Yubonpunt², Busaba Supawattanabodee¹, Chavanant Sumanasrethakul³, Budsaba Wiriyasirivaj⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Research and Medical Innovation, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand.
² Department of Public Health, Faculty of Public and Environmental Health, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Samut Prakan, Thailand.
³ Department of Urban Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand. wboosaba@yahoo.com.

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy is associated with increased risk for severe COVID-19. Few studies have examined knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to pregnancy during the pandemic. This study investigated the association between socio-demographic characteristics and KAP related to COVID-19 among pregnant women in an urban community in Thailand.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was distributed among pregnant women in Bangkok, Thailand from July-August 2021. Binary logistic regression was conducted to test the association between socio-demographic characteristics and KAP related to COVID-19, and a Spearman's analysis tested correlations between KAP scores.

Results: A total of 150 pregnancy survey responses were received. Most participants were third trimester (27-40 weeks gestation; 68.0%). Pregnancy had never been risked contracting COVID-19 (84.7%). Most expressed concerns about being infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy and following birth (94.0 and 70.0%, respectively). The results of binary logistic regression analysis found associations between knowledge and marital status (OR = 4.983, 95%CI 1.894-13.107). In addition, having a bachelor's degree or higher was associated with higher attitude scores (OR = 2.733, 95%CI 1.045-7.149), as was being aged 26-30 (OR = 2.413 95%CI 0.882-6.602) and 31-35 years of age (OR = 2.518-2.664, 95%CI 0.841-8.442). Higher practice scores were associated with having a bachelor's degree or higher (OR = 2.285 95%CI 1.110-6.146), and income ≥15,001 bath (OR = 4.747 95%CI 1.588-14.192). Correlation analysis found a weak positive correlation between knowledge and practice scores (r = 0.210, p-value = 0.01).

Conclusion: Participants overall had high KAP scores. This study can guide public health strategies regarding pregnant women and COVID-19. We recommend that interventions to improve and attitude and practice scores. Knowledge on pregnancy and COVID-19 should focus on reducing fear and improving attitudes toward the care of patients as well as the promotion of preventive practices.

Keywords: Attitudes; COVID-19 pandemic; Knowledge; Practices; Pregnant; Thailand.

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Pandemics / prevention & control
Parturition
Pregnancy
Pregnant Women
Surveys and Questionnaires
Thailand / epidemiology