Knowledge and skills of pre-eclampsia management among healthcare providers working in antenatal clinics in Zanzibar

BACKGROUND: Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are the leading causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early detection and treatment of preeclampsia is lifesaving; however, evidence suggests that the majority of women in low and middle income-countries are not routinely screened for high blood pressure during antenatal care, that those with severe and mild pre-eclampsia are not monitored for blood pressure and proteinuria as needed, and the magnesium sulphate is not administered as needed. The purpose of this study was therefore to assess knowledge and skills in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia management and their associated factors among healthcare providers working in antenatal clinics in Zanzibar. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted in all levels of healthcare facilities in Zanzibar. The study involved 176 healthcare providers (nurses and doctors) who were randomly selected. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data and descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the analysis whereby logistic regression models were employed. The Chi-square coefficient, odds ratio, and 95% confidence intervals were reported, and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean age of healthcare providers was 35.94 (SD ± 7.83) years. The proportion of healthcare providers with adequate knowledge was 49.0%, and 47% had adequate skills. Knowledge level was predicted by working in higher healthcare facility levels (AOR: 3.28, 95% CI: 1.29–8.29), and having attended on-the-job training on pre-eclampsia (AOR: 7.8, 95% CI: 2.74 − 22.75). Skills were predicted by having attended on-job training (AOR: 8.6, 95% CI: 2.45 − 30.16), having working experience of five years or above in antenatal care units (AOR: 27.89, 95% CI: 5.28 − 148.89) and being a medical doctor or assistant medical doctor (AOR: 18.9, 95% CI: 2.1–166). CONCLUSION: Approximately half of Zanzibar’s ANC healthcare workers demonstrated inadequate knowledge and skills in preeclampsia care, indicating a critical need for targeted interventions to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Knowledge is predicted by attending on-the-job training and working in higher healthcare facility level, while skills is predicted by attending on job training, more years of working experience in antenatal care units and being a medical doctor or assistant medical doctor The study recommends the healthcare facility institutions to provide on-the-job training to for the healthcare providers working in lower healthcare facility levels. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-022-08892-5.