Abstract
Background: Preeclampsia (PET) is a pregnancy complication that causes high blood pressure. It is still a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. In order to improve health outcomes, there is a greater need to improve PET education among women. This study determines the state of knowledge of preeclampsia among women who live in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among all eligible women who meet the inclusion criteria. The study took place from June to July 2022. A validated online questionnaire was used to collect data about participants' socio demographic characteristics, history of PET, and knowledge of PET, including signs and symptoms, risk factors, complications, timing, and severity. Results: A total of 378 women participated in the study. Almost half of the study population (51.9%) aged > 35 years, and 73.3% were married. The mean knowledge score was 11.46 & PLUSMN; 2.54, and only 4% of the participants had good knowledge about preeclampsia. Participants who had > 4 previous pregnancies had a significantly higher percentage than those who had a good Knowledge level about preeclampsia (p=< 0.05). Also, we found that participants with an age range from 26-35 years, who had a PET family history, had a significantly higher level of knowledge and those who had previously heard about preeclampsia (p=< 0.05). Conclusion: The knowledge of PET among women in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, is remarkably low. Our findings demonstrated the need for an effective health education program that focuses on improving PET knowledge.