Pregnancy Risk Perception and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Health Centers in Jabitehnan District, Amhara, Northwest Ethiopia

Background: Pregnancy risk perception affects a pregnant woman’s decision about health care services use such as prenatal care, place of birth, choices about medical interventions, adherence to medical procedures, and recommendations. Methods: : An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 424 mothers attending ANC at health centers in the Jabitenhan district from April 1 to 30, 2021. Data was collected through a face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire which was developed according to the health belief model. The logistic regression model was used using adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI and p value <0.05 Result: 424 pregnant women were interviewed of which nearly half of the respondents (48%) had good pregnancy risk perception. Women who had a history of obstetric complication (AOR:95%CI = 3.44:1.73,6.83), those who know at least one pregnancy danger sign (AOR:95%CI =5.22;2.46,11.07), pregnant women who had a bad obstetric history (AOR:95%CI = 2.23:1.13,4.41) and knowing women who died due to pregnancy-related complications (AOR:95%CI =2.85:1.45,5.60) were more likely to have good perception towards pregnancy risk as compared to their counterparts. Conclusion: Obstetric complications, awareness of pregnancy danger signs, bad obstetric history, and knowing women who died due to pregnancy-related complications were found to be significantly associated with pregnancy risk perception.