{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,4]],"date-time":"2026-03-04T19:39:52Z","timestamp":1772653192200,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":16,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,4]],"date-time":"2026-03-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1772582400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Pre-eclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are the second leading cause of maternal mortality globally, with 95% of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. In Uganda, these conditions account for approximately 16% of maternal deaths. Despite their burden, little is known about women\u2019s knowledge, perceptions, and management practices regarding pre-eclampsia in such settings, yet early recognition and care-seeking are critical to improving outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To explore community awareness, perceptions, and management practices related to pre-eclampsia in Mbale City, Eastern Uganda.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      An exploratory qualitative study was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 81 women aged 18-49 years during a community outreach event on pre-eclampsia. Data was collected over six days (21\n                      <jats:sup>st<\/jats:sup>\n                      -26th May 2024) by 28 trained research midwives stationed at various community sites. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed using ATLAS.ti software.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Participants exhibited limited and mixed understanding of pre-eclampsia, often associating it with symptoms such as swollen feet, headaches, body weakness, and high blood pressure, but also with misconceptions such as witchcraft, marital stress, and multiple pregnancies. Many lacked a local term for the condition. Women reported varied care-seeking responses, with some turning to traditional birth attendants and herbal remedies, while others sought biomedical care. Fear of death was a motivator for some to seek timely medical attention.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec005\">\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>There was a critical gap in accurate knowledge and awareness of pre-eclampsia among women in Mbale City. Misconceptions and reliance on traditional remedies contribute to delayed care-seeking. Targeted, culturally appropriate educational interventions are urgently needed to improve early recognition, promote biomedical care, and enhance maternal and newborn outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0314674","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,4]],"date-time":"2026-03-04T18:35:17Z","timestamp":1772649317000},"page":"e0314674","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Community awareness, perceptions, and management practices related to pre-eclampsia: An exploratory qualitative study in Mbale City, Eastern Uganda"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2841-3523","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Enid 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