Protocol to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards obstetric danger signs among pregnant women in a selected hospital in South Africa.

AIM: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pregnant women towards ODS in pregnancy in a selected hospital in South Africa. BACKGROUND: Obstetric danger signs in pregnancy (ODS) are early warning signs that women encounter during pregnancy from the moment of conception to delivery. Every pregnant woman is at risk of sudden, unpredictable obstetric complications, which could result in mortality or harm to the fetus. DESIGN/METHOD: The study will adopt a quantitative, cross-sectional research design. POPULATION: the target will be all pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) visits at a selected hospital in South Africa. Nonprobability, convenience sampling will be employed. Tool: Questionnaires will be used to collect data from pregnant women, and the data will be analyzed with the help of a statistician. This research study will adhere to all relevant ethical principles and guidelines. The researcher will ensure trustworthiness through face and content validity, as well as reliability. A pilot study will be conducted to test the reliability and validity of the data collection tool. The researcher will safeguard the rights of study participants, uphold the integrity of the data, and prevent harm by adhering to the principles of ethics. CONCLUSION: Conclusions will be drawn from the study outcomes during data analysis. The study will help raise awareness of the importance of having a thorough understanding of ODS for pregnant women.