Health Care Attendance Patterns by Pregnant Women In Durban; South Africa

RESUMO

"Background: High rates of perinatal mortality and morbidity and maternal mortality in South Africa remain a major problem. The Saving Mothers and Saving Babies Reports identified patient-related factors as possible causes. Among the patient-related factors was non-attendance; or attendance late in pregnancy; for antenatal care in public hospitals. It would appear that pregnant women confirm their pregnancies by visiting general practitioners; but do not attend antenatal care in the public sector.Aim: The aim of this study was to determine healthcare attendance patterns among pregnant women in Durban; South Africa.Method: This was a descriptive study. Participants were recruited and categorised into ""early booker""; ""late booker"" and ""unbooked in labour"" groups. All the participants were interviewed individually using a structured questionnaire.Results: The majority of participants presented for formal ""booking"" late in pregnancy; 47.9 ""booked"" at a gestational age of six months after the last menstrual period. Among the ""early bookers""; the majority (94.4) had confirmed their pregnancy by four months of amenorrhoea; and 60.6 of these confirmed their pregnancies within the public health sector. All the ""early bookers"" began antenatal care prior to the 20th week of gestation. A total of 66.9 of the ""late bookers"" and 66.7 of the ""unbooked"" women also had their pregnancies confirmed at four months amenorrhoea; but 49.0 of the ""late bookers"" and 59.8of the ""unbooked"" women confirmed their pregnancies in the private health sector. The ""late bookers"" also showed a delay of two to three months between confirming the pregnancy and booking visits. Of the women in this study; 49 visited a general practitioner (GP) to confirm the pregnancy after two to four months of amenorrhoea. This figure rose to 53.0 if only the ""late bookers"" and the ""unbooked"" were analysed. Further; 35.3 visited a GP more than once; either for antenatal care or because of ill health.Conclusion: It is imperative for GPs to understand the role of antenatal care and to refer pregnant women appropriately."