Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Pre-Pregnancy Risk Management Among Childbearing-Age Women With a Kidney Transplant: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Some women of child-bearing age with a kidney transplant have a strong fertility desire, but they face a significantly higher risk of pregnancy than healthy women. Pre-pregnancy risk management can help patients achieve planned pregnancies and reduce the risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) about pre-pregnancy risk management are clinically important.

AIMS: To explore the current status and influencing factors of the KAP status of pre-pregnancy risk management among Chinese women of child-bearing age with a kidney transplant.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to recruit 247 women of child-bearing age with a kidney transplant from 5 hospitals in Hunan Province from May to October 2024, using a 37-item questionnaire developed and validated by multidisciplinary experts.

RESULTS

The mean KAP questionnaire was 135.04 ± 21.60, and the score rate was 72.99%. The scoring rates of knowledge, attitude and practices are 64.63%, 89.77% and 78.50%, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis identified age, marital status, occupation, permanent residence and length of time after kidney transplantation as independent factors associated with pre-pregnancy risk management KAP levels (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Women of child-bearing age with a kidney transplant showed generally positive attitudes towards pre-pregnancy risk management. However, their knowledge and practice levels need improvement. Healthcare providers should provide targeted health education to help them reduce pregnancy-related risks.

IMPACT: It is anticipated that this study will help nursing staff identify specific areas of inadequate knowledge for kidney transplant recipients before pregnancy and provide targeted health education to guide patients to reduce adverse outcomes for both mother and baby.