Knowledge and Self-Care Behaviors Regarding Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnant Women in Colombia: A Cluster Analysis

AIM: This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge and self-care behaviors related to hypertensive disorders in pregnant women in Tunja, Colombia, and to analyze the association of these variables with sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the first half of 2025 with 114 pregnant women enrolled in a prenatal care program. The Knowledge and Self-Care Behaviors Regarding Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy “CoNOCiTHE” questionnaire was administered. Descriptive statistics were followed by advanced multivariate analyses. Principal component analysis, multiple correspondence analysis, and K-means clustering were applied to characterize variability patterns, categorical associations, and maternal profiles.

RESULTS: The mean knowledge and self-care score was 71.49 points, with 36.84% of participants at a low level, 29.82% at a medium level, and 33.33% at a high level. Principal component analysis revealed a strong correlation between gestational age and the number of prenatal visits (r = .814), and moderate correlations between maternal age and obstetric history, while knowledge and self-care scores were independent of these variables. K-means clustering explained 52.2% of the variance and identified two distinct groups: one composed of older women with greater obstetric experience (11.92%), and another of younger women (40.34%). Multiple correspondence analysis indicated that a low level of knowledge and self-care was related to younger age, lower educational level, and lower socioeconomic status.

CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of pregnant women showed low levels of knowledge and self-care regarding hypertensive disorders, especially among young women with low education and unfavorable socio-economic conditions. The frequency of prenatal visits was related to gestational age, but had little association with knowledge and self-care. Nursing professionals play a key role in implementing educational strategies that promote self-care and contribute to improved maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Cite this article as: Ulloa Sabogal, I.M & Arias Rojas, M. (2026). Knowledge and self-care behaviors regarding hypertensive disorders in pregnant women in Colombia: A cluster analysis. Florence Nightingale Journal of Nursing, 34, 0418, doi:10.5152/FNJN.2026.25418.