Healthcare providers' knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk after preeclampsia: A pilot of five healthcare facilities in Lusaka, Zambia.

OBJECTIVE

To assess Healthcare providers (HCPs') knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk after preeclampsia across five healthcare facilities in Lusaka, Zambia.

STUDY

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was conducted at selected health facilities in Lusaka Zambia from August 5, 2023, to October 31, 2023. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among obstetricians, general practitioners, registered nurse midwives, registered nurses, enrolled nurses, enrolled midwives, medical licentiates, and registered public health nurses. The knowledge scores were calculated for each participant, and Logistic regression was used to assess the predictors of high knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk after preeclampsia.

MAIN OUTCOME: The overall mean knowledge score of cardiovascular disease risk after preeclampsia was 4.7/7 (67.1 %). The majority correctly reported hypertension 101 (92.7 %), Ischemic heart disease 84 (77.1 %), Stroke 83 (76.2 %), and kidney disease 75(68.8 %) as future conditions associated with preeclampsia. Knowledge and practice had a significant but moderate negative correlation (r = -0.21, p = 0.037). Compared to obstetricians/general practitioners, registered nurse midwives (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.21, 95 % CI: 0.05-0.80, p = 0.023) and enrolled midwives/enrolled nurses/medical licentiates/registered public health nurses (aOR = 0.15, 95 % CI: 0.03-0.91, p = 0.039) were less likely to have high knowledge. Additionally, HCPs with 5-10 years (aOR = 7.15, 95 % CI: 1.99-25.72, p = 0.003) and more than 15 years of work experience (aOR = 3.21, 95 % CI: 1.03-9.99, p = 0.017) were more likely to have high knowledge than those with less than five years.

CONCLUSION

Most HCPs were knowledgeable about the future risk of cardiovascular diseases after preeclampsia. Nevertheless, positive behavioral change interventions may be required to address the disconnect between knowledge and practice.