{
  "abstract": "Introduction: Pre-eclampsia, a high-risk pregnancy complication, poses significant threats to maternal and fetal health. Globally, little is known about how women navigate a pre-eclampsia diagnosis or their perceptions of the pathology, unpredictable course, and treatment. Guided by the Health Belief model, this study explores pregnant women’s beliefs about pre-eclampsia in Ghana’s most populous region. Materials and methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted at a district hospital in the Ashanti Region of Ghana to explore pregnant women’s narratives of their health beliefs and perceptions regarding pre-eclampsia. Sixteen participants were purposively selected, and one-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted in October 2021. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Categories were developed inductively from participants’ accounts and subsequently interpreted in relation to the constructs of the Health Belief Model. Results: Pregnant women’s risk perceptions of pre-eclampsia varied, with some not perceiving personal risk, while a few felt vulnerable based on community experiences and observations of other women. Pre-eclampsia was widely regarded as a serious condition, with many expressing fears of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Participants recognized the benefits of antenatal care and lifestyle modifications in reducing risk and empowering care-seeking, while previous experiences with pre-eclampsia and guidance from health providers served as key cues to action. However, several barriers to care were identified, including financial constraints, mistrust of the health system, and inadequate communication from health providers. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for context-specific approaches to address health beliefs related to pre-eclampsia. Strengthening maternal health literacy, effective risk communication, and respectful care can improve early recognition, care-seeking, and outcomes for pre-eclampsia.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Molly Wardaguga Research Institute, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.",
    "School of Nursing and Midwifery, Valley View University, Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana.",
    "National Orthopedic Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.",
    "School of Nursing, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America.",
    "School of Nursing, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau, Nigeria.",
    "Zenu Polyclinic, Ghana Health Service, Kpone Katamanso, Ghana.",
    "Maternity Unit, Ashanti Regional Hospital, Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana."
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Isabella Garti",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7230-5351"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Awube Menlah",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0683-1572"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Emuejevoke Fuafugo",
      "orcid": "0009-0001-5083-480X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Evans Osei Appiah"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Nadyen Jordan Shikpup"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Ophelia Serwaa Tonto"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Betty Osei Ntiamoah"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7ra0xpdywdbz2.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0361626",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13722199",
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  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0361626",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Antenatal Care"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Behavioral and Social Aspects of Health"
    ],
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      "heading",
      "Epidemiology"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
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    ],
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      "heading",
      "Health Care Facilities"
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    ],
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      "People and Places"
    ],
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      "heading",
      "Population Groupings"
    ],
    [
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      "Preeclampsia"
    ],
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      "Pregnancy"
    ],
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      "Pregnancy Complications"
    ],
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    ],
    [
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      "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Maternal health/Pregnancy/Pregnancy complications/Preeclampsia"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Obstetrics and gynecology/Pregnancy"
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      "/Medicine and health sciences/Women's health/Obstetrics and gynecology/Pregnancy/Pregnancy complications/Preeclampsia"
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  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13722199?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13722199",
  "pmid": "42961892",
  "published": "2026-10-30",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7ra0xpdywdbz2.ris",
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "heading:Epidemiology",
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  "title": "Pregnant women’s health beliefs about pre-eclampsia in a resource-limited setting: A qualitative study",
  "title_text": "Pregnant women’s health beliefs about pre-eclampsia in a resource-limited setting: A qualitative study",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-03T12:22:45Z",
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