Pattern of women's attendance to the antenatal care in Zagazig and the factors influencing it

ABSTRACT

This study aims at determining the pattern of attendance of pregnant women to the antenatal clinic as well as identifying the factors influencing it. Two hundred pregnant women [28 weeks or more] were chosen randomly from outpatients registered in the antenatal clinic of the Main University hospital and three Maternal Child Health Centres in Zagazig. An interviewing schedule was used for data collection. It included information about sociodemographic, medical and obstetrical data as well as the pattern of prenatal care. The amount of prenatal care attendance was defined by the number of prenatal care visits compared to length of gestation and month of start of care. Results indicate that 41.5% began prenatal care during the third trimester and only one fifth [21.0%] of the sample received adequate prenatal care. More than half of the sample [56.0%] attended prenatal care for curative purposes. A similar proportion had structural and attitudinal barriers for receiving adequate prenatal care. Women who had sociodemographic and medicoobstetrical risk were significantly more likely to receive inadequate prenatal care. The results suggest that improved access is needed for certain high risk groups and can be achieved by outreach, coordinated and comprehensive approach to prenatal care