Published Article

                                                ABSTRACT

The study investigated factors influencing birth complications during childbirth among pregnant women at Ikot Ebok Primary Health Centre, Eket. Guided by four research questions and null hypotheses, a descriptive cross-sectional research design was employed. A sample size of 179 was obtained from 324 pregnant women using Taro Yamane formula. Structured questionnaires collected data on socio-demographic characteristics, economic factors, cultural beliefs, healthcare system factors and maternal health services utilization. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (one-sample t-tests and chi-square tests). The study found a high level of birth preparedness, with significant influences from socio-demographic factors, knowledge of potential complications, and antenatal care attendance. The implications for nursing include enhanced antenatal education, tailored interventions, resource allocation, policy development, and professional development. Limitations include sample size, self-reported data, cross-sectional design, and cultural specificity. The findings on research question three revealed that the knowledge and awareness levels of pregnant women regarding potential birth complications was high. It also revealed that there was a significant influence of antenatal care attendance on birth preparedness and complication readiness. Recommendations emphasize improve access to and the quality of antenatal care services to ensure that all pregnant women can attend regular check- ups and receive timely information and support.

KEYWORDS: Child’s Birth, Pregnant Women, Ikot Ebok, Primary Health Care and Eket