The Awareness and Knowledge of Normal and Abnormal Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy Among Women of Childbearing Age in Saudi Arabia

Background: Pregnancy is a natural physiological process that leads to the outstanding outcome of giving birth. It involves normal and abnormal signs and symptoms that women need to be aware of during this period. Objectives: This study aims to assess the awareness and knowledge about normal and abnormal signs and symptoms of pregnancy among women of childbearing age in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is an online questionnaire-based cross-sectional study done in 2023 among women in Saudi Arabia, aged 18 to 45. The estimated sample size was 385 after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. However, 981 responses were collected and included. Results: A total of 981 participants were included in our study. The study findings noted that the majority of women demonstrated a good level of knowledge about the normal signs and symptoms of pregnancy. About 82% of the women reported that they knew mood swings were normal symptoms during pregnancy, 80.1% were aware of nausea, 75.9% knew about fatigue, and 68.9% knew about fainting or dizziness. The findings noted that less than half of the participants were fully aware of the abnormal obstetric signs. For the abnormal signs and symptoms during the first trimester, only 45.2% were fully aware of the symptoms. In the second trimester, 39.0% were fully aware of the symptoms. Only 30.5% of the participants were fully aware of the abnormal signs and symptoms in the third trimester. The study established a statistically significant relationship between age and knowledge of abnormal symptoms during the first, second, and third trimesters (P=0.027, 0.041, and 0.006) (r=0.139, 0.105, and 0.146). Furthermore, a statistically significant relationship was found between the level of education of the participants and the level of awareness of abnormal symptoms during the first trimester (P=0.043). However, there was no significant relationship between education level and the level of knowledge regarding abnormal symptoms during the second and third trimesters (r=0.22, 0.061, P=0.578, 0.603). Conclusion: The study found that the majority of women had a good level of awareness and knowledge about normal signs and symptoms of pregnancy, while less than half of the women were fully aware of the abnormal signs and symptoms at different stages of pregnancy. The older respondents and people with higher levels of education demonstrated more knowledge. The two variables, age and education level, had a statistically significant relationship with knowledge of abnormal signs and symptoms of pregnancy with education level being only significant during the first trimester period. Our study concluded that women had different symptoms during pregnancy, both normal and abnormal. Their knowledge about these signs and symptoms was considerably moderate, but further awareness about the normality of these signs is needed. The study recommends more research to measure women's awareness about normal and abnormal symptoms of pregnancy, and more awareness programs should be carried out in the region as a way of enhancing a better understanding of normal and abnormal pregnancy symptoms. This will go a long way in helping women through their pregnancy and make them more comfortable.