This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices on the prevention of anemia in pregnancy among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Pleebo Health Center, Pleebo City, Maryland County, Liberia. The study is significant because it provides important evidence on maternal health awareness and behaviors related to anemia prevention, which remains a major public health concern affecting both mothers and unborn babies. The findings are expected to guide healthcare providers, policymakers, and public health programs in strengthening antenatal care services, improving health education, and designing targeted interventions to reduce the burden of anemia in pregnancy and improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes in the study area and similar settings. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used, applying a quantitative approach to collect and analyze data. The study population consisted of 217 pregnant women attending antenatal care at Pleebo Health Center, who were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. The results were presented using tables and percentages to clearly describe the distribution of respondents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding anemia prevention during pregnancy. The key findings revealed that pregnant women had a very high level of knowledge about anemia in pregnancy, including its causes, symptoms, and prevention methods. All respondents were aware of anemia, and most of them obtained information from health workers. The study also found very positive attitudes toward anemia prevention, as all respondents recognized anemia as a serious condition and expressed willingness to take iron and folic acid supplements as recommended by healthcare providers. However, despite this high level of knowledge and positive attitudes, gaps were identified in actual practices, particularly in dietary diversity, deworming coverage, and regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-rich foods. On the positive side, antenatal care attendance and use of iron and folic acid supplements were high among respondents. The study concludes that although pregnant women attending antenatal care at Pleebo Health Center demonstrate strong knowledge and positive attitudes toward anemia prevention, there is a clear gap between what they know and what they practice. This shows that awareness alone is not sufficient to ensure effective prevention of anemia in pregnancy, especially when practical and behavioral factors are not fully addressed. It is therefore recommended that antenatal health education be strengthened with a stronger focus on practical nutrition and dietary practices. Healthcare providers should ensure the consistent delivery of all essential preventive services, including deworming and malaria prevention. In addition, the Ministry of Health and relevant stakeholders should implement community-based nutrition programs to improve access to affordable and iron-rich foods, as well as fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, targeted awareness campaigns should be conducted to address existing knowledge gaps and encourage pregnant women to consistently adopt healthy preventive practices.
Effort Wesseh (Thu,) studied this question.