Factors associated with pregnancy-related knowledge in women of reproductive age with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Objective: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) usually develops at a young age, and many women experience marriage, pregnancy, and delivery during the disease course. We aimed to evaluate the pregnancy-related knowledge of women with IBD in Korea and investigate the associated factors.

Material and methods: A total of 270 women with IBD, aged 19–45 years, from four tertiary hospitals in Korea were administered a questionnaire comprising 17 questions from the validated Crohn’s and Colitis Pregnancy Knowledge Score (CCPKnow) that were translated into Korean.

Results: The average CCPKnow score of the 270 patients was 7.47 ± 3.07; and most of the patients (51.5%) exhibited a poor knowledge level. Younger age at diagnosis, Crohn’s disease rather than ulcerative colitis, longer disease duration, anti-TNF-α medication history, higher household income, and delivery after diagnosis were associated with an appropriate level of pregnancy-related knowledge. Younger age at diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 1.87; p = .036), anti-TNF-α therapy (OR, 1.87; p = .047), and delivery while suffering from IBD (OR, 3.07; p = .002) were independent factors affecting the pregnancy-related knowledge level. Approximately 69.6% of patients acquired related knowledge from their gastroenterology doctor, whereas 19.4% of patients intended to remain childless.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the pregnancy-related knowledge of women of reproductive-age with IBD and their perceptions by using a questionnaire in Asia. As more than half of the patients showed a poor knowledge level of IBD, a general education program should be conducted by gastroenterology doctors.

Keywords:

• Inflammatory bowel disease
• knowledge
• pregnancy
• women

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Christian P. Selinger (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, United Kingdom), who permitted us to use the CCPKnow questionnaire.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.