The Relationship Between Pregnant Women’s Level of Knowledge About Pregnancy Warning Signs and Their Adherence to Antenatal Care (ANC)

Abstract

Pregnancy is a physiological process that requires regular monitoring to maintain the health of both mother and fetus, as well as to detect complications at an early stage. One of the important efforts to reduce maternal mortality rates is through Antenatal Care (ANC) services. Pregnant women’s adherence to ANC is influenced by various factors, one of which is the level of knowledge regarding danger signs of pregnancy. Good knowledge of pregnancy danger signs can increase awareness among pregnant women to attend regular antenatal check-ups and to seek medical help promptly when complications occur. This study aims to determine the relationship between the level of knowledge of pregnant women regarding pregnancy danger signs and adherence to Antenatal Care (ANC) at the Bengkulu City Health Center. This study used a quantitative method with an observational analytic design and a cross-sectional approach. The study was conducted from January to March 2026 with a sample of 60 respondents selected using an accidental sampling technique. Data were collected using a knowledge questionnaire and an ANC adherence observation sheet. Data analysis was performed using univariate and bivariate analysis with the Chi-Square test at a significance level of α = 0.05. The results showed that most respondents were aged 20–35 years, totaling 45 respondents (75%), had a high school education level totaling 38 respondents (63.3%), and most worked as housewives totaling 34 respondents (56.7%). The level of knowledge of pregnant women regarding pregnancy danger signs was mostly in the good category, totaling 36 respondents (60%), while ANC adherence was mostly in the compliant category, totaling 40 respondents (66.7%). The statistical test results showed a p-value of 0.001 (<0.05), indicating a significant relationship between the level of knowledge of pregnant women regarding pregnancy danger signs and ANC adherence at the Bengkulu City Health Center. The better the level of knowledge of pregnant women, the higher their level of adherence to routine ANC examinations. This study is expected to serve as an evaluation material for health workers in improving education regarding pregnancy danger signs among pregnant wome.