Perinatal Complications of Mothers and Neonates Resulting from Inadequate Prenatal Care / 대한주산의학회잡지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: With improvement in the social and economic states of Korea, most of the pregnancies have been appropriately examined but there are a few mothers and newborns who have not received proper prenatal care. The aim of this study was to investigate obstetrical and neonatal complications resulting from inadequate prenatal care. METHODS: The medical records of 107 neonates who had received prenatal care lesser than 3 visits and admitted to the neonatal intensive care units of Korea University Ansan Hospital from January 2004 to December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Obstetrical complications, neonatal gestational age, birth weight, neonatal complications were analyzed. We compared neonatal complications of the inadequate prenatal care group and those of the adequate prenatal care group lesser than 34 weeks' gestational age neonates. RESULTS: In obstetrical complications, there were twenty women with anemia, fifteen cases with premature rupture of membranes, and fourteen chorioamnionitis. In neonatal complications, there were forth-four premature infants, and forty-four low birth weight infants. Respiratory distress syndrome, small for gestational age, severe intraventricular hemorrhage were more common in the inadequate prenatal care group than the adequate prenatal care group. Thirty-seven infants (34.5%) were sent to the adoption agency. Fifty infants (46.6%) received medical expense support by the social service. CONCLUSIONS: Obstetrical and neonatal complications and social burden were increasing when the pregnancies had not received adequate prenatal care. To reduce perinatal complications of mothers and neonates in low socioeconomic classes, practical nation's policies and social supports for adequate prenatal care should be provided.