Articles

<b>Background: </b>Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, with a disproportionate burden in low- and middle-income settings such as Bangladesh. This study assessed knowledge and attitude regarding hypertension prevention among pregnant women at a private hospital in Dhaka and their association with socio-demographic characteristics. <b>Methods: </b>A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 122 pregnant women attending antenatal care at Ashulia Women and Children Hospital, Dhaka, using systematic random sampling. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested, bilingual, structured questionnaire (10-item knowledge and 10-item attitude scales; Cronbach's alpha 0.814 and 0.795). Scores were dichotomized as low (≤50%) or high (>50%). Chi-square tests examined associations with socio-demographic variables (p<0.05). <b>Results: </b>Overall, 50.8% of women had high knowledge and 60.7% had a favorable attitude toward hypertension prevention; 63.9% had a high combined perception score. Knowledge was significantly associated with age (χ²=18.177, p<0.001), highest among women aged 20-29 years. Attitude was significantly associated with number of children (χ²=9.545, p=0.023), most favorable among women with two children. Education and occupation showed no significant association with either. Gaps persisted around dietary intervention, organic foods, and bed rest, despite high perceived importance of prevention (81.1%) and social media influence (81.1%). <b>Conclusion: </b>Knowledge and attitude toward hypertension prevention were moderate to favorable, with age and family size as the key socio-demographic correlates. Age-specific and family-inclusive education, potentially via social media, may be more effective than broadly targeted interventions.