[Effect of a community-based intervention to improve the knowledge on the warning signs of maternal complications among Mayan women from Yucatan randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate a community-based intervention aimed to improve women's knowledge on alarm signs for preeclampsia-eclampsia, obstetrical hemorrhage, and puerperal sepsis, in Mayan pregnant women in the state of Yucatan, Mexico, in 2008, using participatory methodology.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Community-based randomized controlled trial, with experimental (n = 28) and control (n = 28) groups. Participatory strategies with translators of Mayan language were used. Analysis of differences in differences was carried out to evaluate the effect of intervention.

RESULTS

The intervention increased knowledge on alarm signs for preeclampsia-eclampsia in 42.9% (p = 0.012), obstetrical hemorrhage in 32.1% (p = 0.071) and puerperal sepsis in 25.0% (p = 0.659). Control group increased 32.1% (p = 0.033) knowledge on alarm signs for puerperal sepsis. Overall effect of intervention was 33.3% (p = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

The community-based intervention improved overall knowledge of women on alarm signs and specific knowledge on alarm signs for preeclampsia-eclampsia. It is necessary to spread this methodology, so that a greater number of women of the community will also be benefitted with the intervention.