KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS POST-ABORTION CARE SERVICES AMONG MOTHERS ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINIC AT NIMULE HOSPITAL, MAGWI COUNTY, EASTERN EQUATORIAL STATE, SOUTH SUDAN

Abstract

Unsafe abortion remains a significant contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality, especially morbidity and mortality, especially in low-resource and conflict settings like South Sudan. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of mothers attending antenatal care at Nimule Hospital regarding antenatal care at Nimule Hospital regarding post-abortion care (PAC) services. a descriptive for cross-sectional design was used, and data were collected from 90 women aged 15-45 years using structured, interviewer-administered questionnaires. Quantitative analysis was conducted using SPSS version 21 for both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that 80% of respondents had a moderate level of knowledge on PAC, but only 6.7% had high level of knowledge. Despite high awareness of complications and service availability, key gaps existed in understanding specific PAC components such as the importance of immediate care and preventive strategies. Attitudes emerged as the most significant predictor of PAC utilization ( p = 0.044), with favorable attitudes linked to increased service use. In contrast, knowledge ( p = 0.196) and perception (p = 0.559) were not statistically significant predictors of service utilization. Perceptions were shaped by awareness, stigma, financial barriers, and community influence. While 82.2 % knew where to access PAC services, 71% of respondents reported community stigma, and 56.6% cited financial constraints as key barriers. The study concludes that positive attitudes significantly influence the likelihood of seeking PAC services more than knowledge or perception. Therefore, enhancing community education, promoting male involvement, reducing stigma, and improving health system responsiveness are essential for increasing PAC uptake. These findings provide critical baseline data for policy formulation and targeted reproductive health interventions in magwi county and similar post conflict settings. Keywords: post-abortion care, maternal health, post-conflict settings, reproductive heath services, South Sudan