Knowledge and Awareness About Preconception Care Among Nursing Students at the University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan

Abstract

Background: One of the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 is to reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity, and this is still a major global priority. Purpose: This study aimed to determine how much the participants at the University of Medical Sciences & Technology in Sudan knew about preconception care. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional institutional study was carried out using simple random sampling to select 193 nursing students. After outlining the study's goal and considering confidentiality, data was gathered by distributing a questionnaire. Excel and SPSS, version 22, were then used for analysis. Results: It was found that almost half (46.1%) of participants had good knowledge which was (>75%), while only (35.8%) had poor knowledge, which was (< 50%) and few of the participants (18.1%) had Fair knowledge which ranged from (50-75%). The study results showed a highly statistically significant correlation (P.V 0.00) between the participants' ages and knowledge levels as well as between their educational attainment and knowledge levels. Conclusion: The study concluded that most participants had a good understanding of preconception care and that there was a correlation between participants' educational attainment and their knowledge of the topic. Recommendation: As a result, the study recommended that ongoing preconception care refresher courses be held and that further research be done to evaluate participants' practical skills in preconception care.