Knowledge, attitude and practice of parents on maternal care in a mountainous district of Vietnam: A qualitative study

Barriers preventing parents from accessing healthcare services affect the effectiveness of maternal care in mountainous areas of Vietnam. This study aimed to examine the current knowledge, attitudes, and practice of parents about maternal care in a mountainous region of Cao Bang province. With the participation of 18 individuals (mothers, fathers, and pregnant women), six semi-structured interviews and three group discussions were conducted at different commune health centers. This study emerged three themes, including knowledge, attitude, and practice of parents. Overall, parental knowledge about maternal care was at a basic level. While they showed positive attitudes towards the importance of maternal healthcare, unexpected behaviors such as homebirth or poor attendance at maternal health visits were still evident. These behavior patterns reflect incorrect cultural beliefs about health along with geographical and economic barriers.