FACTORS FOR INACCESSIBILITY OF ANTENATAL CARE BY WOMEN IN SINDH

Authors

  • Farhana Yousuf
  • Gulfareen Haider
  • Raheela Bilal Shaikh

Abstract

Background: Antenatal care is important for pregnant women. By good antenatal care manycomplications of pregnancy can be prevented and lives can be saved. This study was carried out tofind out the reasons of not utilising antenatal care, knowledge about dangerous signs andsymptoms of pregnancy, and diet in women receiving and not receiving antenatal care. Methods:This descriptive study was conducted at Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LiaquatUniversity Hospital, Hyderabad Pakistan from February 2007 to October 2007. A total of 134women who came for delivery were included in the study. Out of these, 71 women had receivedantenatal care while 63 did not receive antenatal care. After taking informed consent, women wereinterviewed regarding demographic data, reason of not utilising antenatal care, knowledge aboutdiet and dangerous signs and symptoms of pregnancy. Results: Twenty-eight (44.44%) womendid not receive antenatal care because the facility was far away from home, 10 (15.87%) said thattransport was not available. Tetanus toxoid coverage was higher among women who receivedantenatal care (p<0.0001). Women who received antenatal care were more aware of the dangeroussigns and symptoms of pregnancy than women who did not receive antenatal care. Conclusion:Most common reason of not utilising antenatal care was that facility was far away from therehome. Women who received antenatal care were not anaemic and had received tetnus toxoidvaccination. They knew more about diet and dangerous sign and symptoms of pregnancy thanwomen who had not received antenatal care.Keywords: Antenatal care, women, anaemic, rural, pregnancy, facility, safe motherhood, Sindh

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Published

2010-12-01

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 4 (2010): JOURNAL OF AYUB MEDICAL COLLEGE, ABBOTTABAD

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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