Determinants of antenatal care attendance among women residing in highly disadvantaged communities in northern Jordan: a cross-sectional study

Use of Supervision Data to Improve Quality of Care for Malaria in Pregnancy: Experience in Six African Countries

Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) intervention coverage, especially intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp), lags behind other global malaria indicators. In 2020, across Africa, only 32% of eligible pregnant women received at least three IPTp doses, despite high antenatal care attendance. We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected during Outreach Training and Supportive Supervision visits from 2019 to 2020 to assess quality of care and explore factors contributing to providers' competence in providing IPTp, insecticide-treated nets, malaria case management, and respectful maternity care. Data were collected during observations of provider-patient interactions in six countries (Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, and Niger). Competency scores (i.e., composite scores of supervisory checklist observations) were calculated across three domains: MiP prevention, MiP treatment, and respectful maternity care. Scores are used to understand drivers of competency, rather than to assess individual health worker performance. Country-specific multilinear regressions were used to assess how competency score was influenced by commodity availability, training, provider gender and cadre, job aid availability, and facility type. Average competency scores varied across countries: prevention (44-90%), treatment (78-90%), and respectful maternity care (53-93%). The relative association of each factor with competency score varied. Commodity availability, training, and access to job aids correlated positively with competency in multiple countries. To improve MiP service quality, equitable access to training opportunities for different cadres, targeted training, and access to job aids and guidelines should be available for providers. Collection and analysis of routine supervision data can support tailored actions to improve quality MiP services.

Understanding coverage of antenatal care in Palestine: Cross-sectional analysis of Palestinian Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, 2019-2020

INTRODUCTION

Antenatal care is an essential component of primary healthcare, providing opportunities to screen, prevent, and treat morbidity to preserve the health of mothers and offspring. The World Health Organization now recommends a minimum of eight antenatal care contacts, instead of four, which is challenging in countries exposed to political violence and structural disparities in access to social, economic and healthcare resources as exist in Palestine. This study examines the compliance of the recommend standard of antenatal care in Palestine.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the UNICEF's Palestinian Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2019-2020. The eligible sample consisted of 2,028 women, 15-49 years of age, living in Palestine, on whom data were available on reported antenatal care services received during the most recent pregnancy within the last two years. Outcome variables of interest were the reported frequencies of antenatal care visits, gestational timing of 1st visit, and services received. Potential risk factors were assessed in women attending less than eight versus eight or more antenatal contacts, as recommended by WHO, by estimating prevalence ratios with 95% Confidence Intervals.

RESULTS

Overall, 28% of women did not meet the WHO's recommendation of eight or more antenatal contacts, varying from 18% in Central West Bank to 33% in South West Bank across the four areas of Palestine (North, Central, and South West Bank and Gaza Strip). Twelve percent of women reported having had no antenatal contacts in the 1st trimester, and these women were two- to three-folds more unlikely to meet WHO recommendation of antenatal contacts than mothers who initiated the antenatal contact in the 1st trimester. Women who had less than eight antenatal contacts were generally poorer, higher in parity, lived in North and South West Bank, sought ANC from either doctor or nurse/midwife only, and initiated antenatal contact in 2nd-to-3rd trimesters.

CONCLUSION

There were considerable socioeconomic and geographic inequalities in the prevalence of not meeting WHO recommended number of antenatal contacts in Palestine, offering the opportunity to inform, improve and continuously reassess coverage of antenatal care.

Gap identification for improvement in maternal and early infant health care practices among tribal pregnant women in an aspirational tribal district Sirohi, Rajasthan

Background

Sirohi is one of the aspirational districts of Rajasthan which is also tribal-dominated. The maternal and early infant health indicators are worrisome compared to regional or national statistics. First-trimester registration of pregnant women is 54% in district Sirohi, which is much less as compared to registration in the state of Rajasthan (63%) and India (59%). Four antenatal care (ANC) visits of pregnant women are 32% in district Sirohi, which is also much less as compared to ANC visits in the state of Rajasthan (39%) and India (51%). However, there was no tribal-specific data regarding maternal and early infant health.

Objective

The study aims to identify gaps for improvement in maternal and early infant health care practices among tribal pregnant women in an aspirational tribal district of Sirohi, Rajasthan.

Materials and Methods

It was a cross-sectional study conducted among 560 tribal pregnant women to assess the existing maternal, and early infant health care knowledge and practices through a pre-validated questionnaire in the tribal population of district Sirohi Rajasthan.

Result

Nineteen per cent (19.5%, n = 109) of tribal pregnant women got married between the age of 10 and 17 (less than the legal age of marriage of 18 years). There is a significant relationship between early age at marriage and low educational status P < 0.001, r = 0.241 among participants. Measurement of weight, blood pressure and urine examination was done in 32.5% (n = 181), 19.5% (n = 109) and 7.1% (n = 39), respectively, among tribal pregnant women. The majority (94.6%) of the pregnant tribal women (385/407) were anaemic. Approximately 60% (n = 337) of mothers were unaware of thermal protection (skin-to-skin care). Sixty per cent (n = 334) of tribal pregnant women preferred to seek consultation regarding antenatal and infant health care from doctors, while 40.1% (n = 224) were more comfortable seeking advice from traditional birth attendants (TBAs).

Conclusion

The study finds inadequate knowledge and practice towards maternal and early infant care among tribal pregnant women. As TBAs influence tribal pregnant women, systematic training and involvement of TBAs in maternal and child health are indispensable.

Association between inter-pregnancy interval and risk of adverse birth outcomes in subsequent pregnancy: A retrospective study from Jordan

BACKGROUND

Adverse birth outcomes, such as preterm birth and low birth weight (LBW), are leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aimed to estimate the association between inter-pregnancy interval (IPI) and the risks of adverse birth outcomes in a subsequent pregnancy.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis involving 630 mothers who delivered a singleton live infant at a leading tertiary hospital in northern Jordan from March to August 2021. Outcome variables were preterm birth (<37 weeks of gestation) and LBW (<2.5 kg). Using multivariable logistic regression, the association between IPI and these two adverse birth outcomes was investigated.

RESULTS

The rates of preterm birth and LBW were 12.4% and 16.8%, respectively. Compared with an optimal IPI (24-36 months), a short IPI (<24 months) was positively associated with preterm birth (aOR: 4.09; 95% CI: 1.48-6.55) and LBW (aOR: 3.58; 95% CI: 1.57-5.15). Infants conceived after a long IPI (≥ 60 months) had increased odds of preterm birth (aOR: 3.78; 95% CI: 1.12-5.78) and LBW (aOR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.67-4.03). Preterm delivery was also significantly associated with the mother's age (aOR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.04-1.17), history of multiple cesarean births (aOR: 2.67; 95% CI: 1.14-4.29), prolonged rupture of membranes (aOR: 2.46; 95% CI: 1.10-5.52), and perinatal death (aOR: 3.42; 95% CI: 1.10-5.49). A mother's history of prior LBW (aOR: 4.39; 95% CI: 1.08-6.80), hypertensive disorders (aOR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.03-3.89), and multiple cesarean births (aOR: 4.35; 95% CI: 2.10-6.99) was associated with LBW.

CONCLUSIONS

Both short and long IPIs were related to preterm delivery and LBW. Optimal birth spacing is recommended to improve birth outcomes and must be considered when designing effective family planning programs.

Determinants of partial and adequate maternal health services utilization in Nigeria: analysis of cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Access to health services during pregnancy, childbirth and the period after birth provides a substantial opportunity to limit cases of maternal mortality. In sub-Saharan Africa, the proportions of women who utilize health services remain below 70%. This study examined the factors associated with partial and adequate maternal health services utilization in Nigeria.

METHODS

This paper used data from 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) comprising 21,792 women aged 15-49 years who had given births within five years of the survey. The study focused on antenatal care attendance, place of birth and postnatal care using a combined model. Multinomial logistic regression was applied in the analysis.

RESULTS

About 74% of the women attended antenatal care, 41% gave birth in health facilities and 21% attended postnatal care. While 68% of the women partially utilized health services, 11% adequately utilized the services. The odds of partially and adequately utilizing health services increased for ever married women, women with secondary or higher education, from richest households, living in urban area, having no problem either getting permission to visit health facility or reaching health facility.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has revealed the factors associated with partial and adequate utilization of maternal health services in Nigeria. Such factors include education, household wealth, marital status, employment status, residence, region, media exposure, getting permission to use health service, unwillingness to visit health facility without being accompanied and distance to health facility. Efforts aimed at improving maternal health services utilization should place emphasis on these factors.

Non-adherence to WHO's recommended 8-contact model: geospatial analysis of the 2017 Maternal Health Survey

INTRODUCTION

Evidence shows that most women in Ghana do not meet the minimum 8-contact model for antenatal care as recommended by WHO with only 31.2%-41.9% of them meeting the recommendation. To the best of our knowledge, no study in Ghana has examined women's noncompliance with the WHO's recommended 8-contact model for antenatal care using geospatial analysis, as this study sets out to do.

METHODS

We sourced data from the recent version of the Ghana Maternal Health Survey which was executed in 2017. A sample of 10,077 women with complete data participated in this study. The link between the explanatory variables and the outcome variable was investigated using binary and multivariate logistic regression models and Spatial analyses such as spatial autocorrelation (Moran's I), hotspot, cluster and outlier analysis, and geographically weighted regression were conducted using ArcMap version 10.7.

RESULTS

Districts found in the north-eastern and south-western parts of the country were more likely to experience noncompliance with ANC. Women staying within the middle belt without health insurance were more likely (17-29%) to be noncompliant with ANC. Women with low community socioeconomic status were found to be more likely (17-34%) to be noncompliant with ANC in the eastern parts of Ghana.

CONCLUSION

The study has shown that in order to achieve targets one and three of Sustainable Development Goal 3, the government of Ghana, the Ministry of Health, together with the Ghana Health Service may have to intensify health education in the identified areas to highlight the importance of adherence to the WHO recommendations on ANC 8-contact model.

Receiving antenatal care via mobile clinic: Lived experiences of Jordanian mothers

Objective

To understand the perceptions of pregnant Jordanian women who received antenatal care via mobile clinic, and to contribute new insights into the experiences of these mothers and how they evaluated the services that were available.

Methods

Ten Jordanian mothers who had received antenatal care at a mobile clinic discussed their experiences in semi-structured, audiotaped interviews in a study that adopted a qualitative research design. The analysis was done using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Results

Three main themes were identified: Being informed about the medical campaign or missing the opportunity of being informed; The experience of receiving antenatal care was wonderful, although there was only one thing lacking; and they safeguard our life and take any opportunity to educate us.

Conclusion

Data indicate that the mothers were largely satisfied with most facets of the antenatal care services they had received at the mobile clinics. However, while services are generally well received, there are clear opportunities for ameliorating the quality of services provided. For mothers living in remote, deprived areas, outreach is not just an 'optional extra' but rather an essential service.

Spatial distribution and predictive factors of antenatal care in Burundi: A spatial and multilevel baseline analysis for the third burundian demographic and health survey

INTRODUCTION

The use of antenatal care by pregnant women enables them to receive good pregnancy monitoring. This monitoring includes counseling, health instructions, examinations and tests to avoid pregnancy-related complications or death during childbirth. To avoid these complications, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least four antenatal visits. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify predictive factors of antenatal care (ANC) among women aged 15 to 49 years and its spatial distribution in Burundi.

METHODS

We used data from the Second Burundi Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). A Spatial analysis of ANC prevalence and Mulitlevel logistic regressions of determinants factors of ANC with a medical doctor were done. The ANC prevalence was mapped by region and by province. In unsampled data points, a cluster based interpolation of ANC prevalence was done using the kernel method with an adaptive window. Predictive factors of ANC were assessed using Mulitlevel logistic regressions. The dependent variable was antenatal care with a medical doctor and the explanatory variables were place of residence, age, education level, religion, marital status of the woman, household wealth index and delivery place of the woman. Data processing and data analysis were done using using Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) and R software, version 3. 5. 0.

RESULTS

The ANC prevalence varied from 0. 0 to 16. 2% with a median of 0. 5%. A highest predicted ANC prevalence was observed at Muyinga and Kirundo provinces' junction. Low prevalence was observed in several locations in all regions and provinces. The woman's education level and delivery place were significantly associated with antenatal care with a medical doctor.

CONCLUSION

Globally, the ANC prevalence is low in Burundi. It varies across the country. There is an intra-regional or intra-provincial heterogeneity in term of ANC prevalence. Woman's education level and delivery place are significantly associated antenatal care. There is a need to consider these ANC disparities and factors in the design and strengthening of existing interventions aimed at increasing ANC visits.

Exploring solutions to improve antenatal care in resource-limited settings: an expert consultation

Background

Shortage or low-quality antenatal care is a complex and “wicked” problem relying heavily on contextual, socio-cultural, environmental and intersectional aspects. We report the outcome of an expert consultation discussing solutions to improve antenatal care quality, access and delivery in low- and middle-income countries, and providing recommendations for implementation.

Methods

The social ecological model was used as an analytical lens to map and interpret discussion points and proposed solutions. In addition, a conceptual framework for maternal and neonatal health innovation based on the building blocks of the World Health Organization health system and the Tanahashi Health Systems Performance Model provided a logical overview of discussed solutions.

Results

Many barriers and norms continue to hinder antenatal care access. From values, beliefs, traditions, customs and norms, to poor resource allocation, there is a need of reshaping health systems in order to provide high quality, respectful maternal and childcare. The burden of poor maternal health, morbidity and mortality is concentrated among populations who are vulnerable due to gender and other types of discrimination, have financial constraints and are affected by humanitarian crises.

Conclusions

In order to address maternal health issues, good quality and evidence-based services should be guaranteed. Investments in strengthening health systems, including data and surveillance systems and skilled health workforce, should be considered an essential step towards improving maternal health services.

Husband’s involvement in wife’s antenatal care visits in Indonesia: What factors are related?

Background:

Involving husbands in maternal and child health programs can reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. The study aimed to analyze the factors related to the husband’s involvement in antenatal care (ANC) visits in Indonesia.

Methods:

The study was a cross-sectional study. The research employed secondary data from the 2017 Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey. The analysis units were wives aged 15–49 years old, married, and pregnant in the past 5 years, and the final samples obtained were 14,319 respondents. In addition to the husband’s involvement were residence, age, education, occupation, wealth, and parity. The study used a binary logistic regression test in the final stage.

Results:

Husbands who lived in urban areas have odds of being involved in ANC visits 1.2 times greater than those in rural areas. The better the husband’s education was, the more involved they were in ANC. The results show husbands who work in any field were better at being involved in ANC. Poorer husbands had odds of being engaged in ANC visits 2.0 times more likely than the husbands’ lowest group. The most prosperous husbands have odds of being involved in ANC visits 5.4 times than the poorest husbands. The husbands’ wealth is better, the more the husbands were engaged in ANC. The more children were born, the less frequent the husbands’ involvement in ANC is.

Conclusion:

The study concluded five variables associated with husbands’ participation in ANC in Indonesia, including residence, education, occupation, wealth, and parity.

Decomposing maternal socioeconomic inequalities in Zimbabwe; leaving no woman behind

Background

Several studies in the literature have shown the existence of large disparities in the use of maternal health services by socioeconomic status (SES) in developing countries. The persistence of the socioeconomic disparities is problematic, as the global community is currently advocating for not leaving anyone behind in attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, health care facilities in developing countries continue to report high maternal deaths. Improved accessibility and strengthening of quality in the uptake of maternal health services (skilled birth attendance, antenatal care, and postnatal care) plays an important role in reducing maternal deaths which eventually leads to the attainment of SDG 3, Good Health, and Well-being.

Methods

This study used the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) of 2015. The ZDHS survey used the principal components analysis in estimating the economic status of households. We computed binary logistic regressions on maternal health services attributes (skilled birth attendance, antenatal care, and postnatal care) against demographic characteristics. Furthermore, concentration indices were then used to measure of socio-economic inequalities in the use of maternal health services, and the Erreygers decomposable concentration index was then used to identify the factors that contributed to the socio-economic inequalities in maternal health utilization in Zimbabwe.

Results

Overall maternal health utilization was skilled birth attendance (SBA), 93.63%; antenatal-care (ANC) 76.33% and postnatal-care (PNC) 84.27%. SBA and PNC utilization rates were significantly higher than the rates reported in the 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey. Residence status was a significant determinant for antenatal care with rural women 2.25 times (CI: 1.55–3.27) more likely to utilize ANC. Richer women were less likely to utilize skilled birth attendance services [OR: 0.20 (CI: 0.08–0.50)] compared to women from the poorest households. While women from middle-income households [OR: 1.40 (CI: 1.03–1.90)] and richest households [OR: 2.36 (CI: 1.39–3.99)] were more likely to utilize antenatal care services compared to women from the poorest households. Maternal service utilization among women in Zimbabwe was pro-rich, meaning that maternal health utilization favoured women from wealthy households [SBA (0.05), ANC (0.09), PNC (0.08)]. Wealthy women were more likely to be assisted by a doctor, while midwives were more likely to assist women from poor households [Doctor (0.22), Midwife (− 0.10)].

Conclusion

Decomposition analysis showed household wealth, husband’s education, women’s education, and residence status as important positive contributors of the three maternal health service (skilled birth attendance, antenatal care, and postnatal care) utilization outcomes. Educating women and their spouses on the importance of maternal health services usage is significant to increase maternal health service utilization and consequently reduce maternal mortality.

Factors affecting optimal antenatal care utilization in Indonesia: implications for policies and practices

Most maternal deaths are preventable with good antenatal care. The study aimed to examine factors relevant to optimal frequency of Antenatal Care (ANC) visits in Indonesia using the Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey 2017 data. Our study outcome was optimal numbers of ANC visits (≥ 8 visits). Predictors include age, had pregnancy termination, number of children, education level, employment status, awareness of pregnancy problems, wealth index, residence, region, health insurance coverage, and barriers to reach healthcare facilities. Of 3738 participants, about 60.2% had optimal number of ANC visits. There was an association between optimal ANC utilization and: experiencing pregnancy complications, distance to the healthcare facility, health insurance coverage, residence, region, awareness of pregnancy problems, and the number of children. Policymakers should improve healthcare facilities' availability, expand health insurance coverage, and educate women about the importance of ANC. This finding might be relevant in developing countries with similar health infrastructure situation.

The Impact of Perceived Social Support During Pregnancy on Postpartum Infant-Focused Anxieties: A Prospective Cohort Study of Mothers in Northern Jordan

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the association between perceived social support during pregnancy and levels of anxiety among postpartum women using an anxiety-specific screening instrument.

Methods

Using a prospective cohort design, a two-stage methodology was conducted to collect data from women seeking maternal care at the King Abdullah University Hospital in northern Jordan. In the first stage, perceived social support was assessed among pregnant women using the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. During the first six months after childbirth, postpartum women were contacted to complete the second stage, wherein their perceptions of infant-focused anxieties were assessed using the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale. In our study, two types of infant-focused anxieties were investigated among a final sample of 419 mothers: infant safety and welfare anxieties and practical infant care anxieties.

Results

The results of multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that providing pregnant women with high levels of emotional support from close social networks (β= −0.08, p= 0.01) and perceiving informational support from health care providers (β= −0.71, p< 0.01) were protective factors for reducing the levels of postpartum anxiety concerning infant safety and welfare. Our findings also demonstrated that pregnant mothers who perceived high informational support from health care providers had a lower level of postpartum anxiety about practical infant care (β= −0.20, p< 0.01). In contrast, mothers who reported receiving high tangible support from close social networks during pregnancy had a significantly higher level of perceived anxiety concerning practical infant care after delivery (β= 0.13, p= 0.02).

Conclusion

Our study suggests that postpartum anxiety would be reduced if effective informational support were readily available for pregnant women. There is a clear need for building bridges between women, their families, and providers to distinguish the specific type and amount of support that should be provided to mothers during pregnancy.

The tipping point of antenatal engagement: A qualitative grounded theory in Tanzania and Zambia

BACKGROUND

Effective antenatal care is fundamental to the promotion of positive maternal and new-born outcomes. International guidance recommends an initial visit in the first trimester of pregnancy, with a minimum of four antenatal visits in total: the optimum schedule being eight antenatal contacts. In low- and middle-income countries, many women do not access antenatal care until later in pregnancy and few have the recommended number of contacts.

AIM

To gain understanding of women's antenatal experiences in Tanzania and Zambia, and the factors that influence antenatal engagement.

METHODS

The study was underpinned by Strauss's grounded theory methodology. Interviews were conducted with 48 women, 16 partners, 21 health care providers and 11 stakeholders, and analysed using constant comparison.

FINDINGS

The core category was 'The tipping point of antenatal engagement', supported by four categories: awareness of health benefits, experiential motivators, influential support, and environmental challenges. Although participants recognised the importance of antenatal care to health outcomes, individual motivations and external influences determined attendance or non-attendance. The 'tipping point' for antenatal engagement occurred when women believed that any negative impact could be offset by tangible gain. For some women non-attendance was a conscious decision, for others it was an unchallenged cultural norm.

CONCLUSION

A complex interplay of factors determines antenatal engagement. Short-term modifiable factors to encourage attendance include the development of strategies for increasing respectful care; use of positive women's narratives, and active community engagement. Further research is required to develop innovative, cost-effective care models that improve health literacy and meet women's needs.

Noncompliance with the WHO's Recommended Eight Antenatal Care Visits among Pregnant Women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Multilevel Analysis

BACKGROUND

In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced a minimum of eight antenatal care (ANC) visits for positive pregnancy outcomes. This study examined the prevalence of noncompliance with 8+ ANCvisits and its associated factors in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

METHODS

We used data from the Demographic and Health Surveys of eight countries in SSA. A pooled sample of 63,266 pregnant women aged 15-49 years who had given birth to children within 5 years prior to the surveys was included in this study. To examine the factors associated with noncompliance with ANC 8+ visits, multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was conducted, and the results were reported using odds radios at 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

The pooled prevalence of noncompliance with ANC 8+ visits was 92.3% (95% CI: 91.1%-93.3%) with the highest and lowest prevalence in Zambia (98.7%, 95% CI: 98.3%-99.1%) and Libya (73.4%, 95% CI: 70.4%-76.2%), respectively. With the individual level factors, women's age (44-49 years-aOR = 0.33, 9% CI: 0.14-0.78), health insurance registration, (yes-aOR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.29-0.98), and economic status (richest-aOR = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.05-0.49) were negatively associated with noncompliance with 8+ ANC visits, while parity (five or more children-aOR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.12-2.52) was positively associated with noncompliance with 8+ ANC visit. With the community level factors, community level literacy was negatively associated with noncompliance with 8+ ANC visit (high-aOR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.32-0.99).

CONCLUSION

About eight out of ten pregnant women did not comply with the WHO's recommended minimum of eight ANC visits for positive pregnancy outcomes in SSA. Empowering the economic status of women , enhancing health insurance and education coverage, and giving more attention to young pregnant women and those with more children are crucial for improving the coverage of ANC 8+ visits in the region.

Magnitude and Determinants of Antenatal Care Utilization in Kandahar City, Afghanistan

Background

Women's and children's health is a crucial public health concern that epitomizes the universal platform for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Appropriate and timely care during pregnancy can improve maternal and child health.

Objectives

The present study aimed at determining the magnitude and determinants of antenatal care services' utilization in Kandahar city.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study involving 850 women with at least one delivery in the last 2 years was carried out in Kandahar city from January to February 2021. Questionnaires to record information on sociodemographic, reproductive, and antenatal care- (ANC-) related characteristics were administered. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.00 statistical software. We used descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages to present the data. Determinants of antenatal care services' utilization were determined using a multivariable logistic regression model.

Results

Among all study participants, 589 (69.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 66.0%-72.4%) of study participants utilized antenatal care services at least once. However, only 22% of the women were utilizing the recommended ≥4 ANC visits. Factors that remained significantly associated with antenatal care services' utilization in multivariable analysis included women's educational status (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.0-4.3), pregnancy intention (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1-3.4), and place of residence (AOR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1-2.6).

Conclusion

This study has found high rates (vs. the national level) of antenatal care services' utilization among women who had at least one delivery in the last 2 years. However, the rate of recommended ≥4 ANC visits was low. Factors determining antenatal care utilization such as educational status of the mother, pregnancy intention, and place of residence hold the key to address the issue of ANC services lower utilization and consequently improve maternal and fetal health.

Health insurance coverage and maternal healthcare services utilization in Jordan: evidence from the 2017-18 Jordan demographic and health survey

BACKGROUND

Despite the relationship between health insurance coverage and maternal healthcare services utilization, previous studies in Jordan on the use of maternal healthcare services have mainly focused on patterns and determinants of maternal healthcare services utilization in Jordan. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between health insurance coverage and maternal healthcare services utilization in Jordan.

METHODS

This study used secondary data published in 2017-18 Jordan Demographic and Health Survey on 4656 women of reproductive age (15-49 years). The independent variable was health insurance coverage and the outcome variable was maternal healthcare services utilization, measured through timing of first antenatal visit, four or more antenatal care visits, and skilled birth attendance. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

Out of the total number of women who participated in the study, 38.2% were not covered by health insurance. With maternal healthcare utilization, 12.5%, 23.2%, and 10.1% respectively, failed to make early first antenatal care visit, complete four or more antenatal care visits and have their delivery attended by a skilled worker. After controlling for the socio-demographic factors, health insurance coverage was associated with increased odds of early timing of first antenatal care visits and completion of four or more antenatal care visits (aOR = 1.33, p < 0.05, aOR = 1.25, p < 0.01, respectively). However, women who were covered by health insurance were less likely to use skilled birth attendance during delivery (aOR = 0.72 p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Jordanian women with health insurance coverage were more likely to have early first antenatal care visits and complete four or more antenatal care visits. However, they were less likely to have their delivery attended by a skilled professional. This study provides evidence that health insurance coverage has contributed to increased maternal healthcare services utilization, only in terms of number and timing of antenatal care visits in Jordan. It is recommended that policy makers in Jordan should strengthen the coverage of health insurance in the country, especially among women of reproductive age in order to enhance the use of maternal healthcare services in the country.

Magnitude of antenatal care service uptake and associated factors among pregnant women: analysis of the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey

Objective

Antenatal and postnatal cares are crucial for the survival and well-being of both the mother and the child. WHO recommends a minimum of four antenatal care (ANC) visits during a pregnancy. In Ethiopia, only 38% of women in the reproductive age make a minimum of first ANC visits. This value is far below the typical rates of least developed countries. This study aimed to calculate the magnitude and identify associated factors of ANC service utilisation among pregnant women in Ethiopia.

Design

Cross-sectional study design.

Setting

Ethiopia.

Participants

A total of 7913 pregnant women participated in the study.

Primary outcome measures

Antenatal care service uptake among pregnant women.

Result

Only 35.5% of the pregnant mothers have used ANC services at least four times and 64.5% of the pregnant mothers have used less than three times during their periods of pregnancy. The study showed that rich women (PR=1.077, 95% CI: 1.029 to 1.127), having access to mass media (PR=1.086, 95% CI: 1.045 to 1.128), having pregnancy complications (PR=1.203, 95% CI: 1.165 to 1.242), secondary education and above (PR=1.112, 95% CI:1.052 to 1.176), husbands’ having secondary education and above (PR=1.085, 95% CI: 1.031 to 1.142) and married (PR=1.187; 95% CI: 1.087 to 1.296), rural women (PR=0.884, 95% CI: 0.846 to 0.924) and women>30 years of age (PR=1.067, 95% CI: 1.024 to 1.111) significantly associated with the ANC service uptake.

Conclusion

The magnitude of ANC service uptake was low. This low magnitude of ANC service utilisation calls for a need to improve community awareness about maternal health. More importantly, intensive health education is required for pregnant women to have better ANC service uptake and follow-up adherence.

Determinants of antenatal care and skilled birth attendance services utilization among childbearing women in Guinea: evidence from the 2018 Guinea Demographic and Health Survey data

BACKGROUND

Globally, maternal health remains a major priority. Most of maternal deaths globally occur in sub-Saharan Africa, with most of these deaths linked to lack of access to antenatal care and skilled assistance during delivery. This study assessed the determinants of antenatal care and skilled birth attendance services utilization among childbearing women in Guinea.

METHODS

Data for this study were obtained from the 2018 Guinea Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). Data of 4,917 childbearing women were considered as our analytical sample. The outcome variables for the study were utilization of antenatal care and skilled birth attendance. Analysis was carried out using chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

The results showed that women aged 15-24 (AOR=1.29, CI=1.03-1.62), women who had secondary/higher level of education (AOR=1.70, CI=1.33-2.19), and those whose partners had secondary/higher level of education (AOR=1.46, CI=1.22-1.75), women in the richest wealth quintile (AOR=5.09, CI=3.70-7.00), those with planned pregnancies (AOR=1.50, CI=1.23-1.81), Muslim women (AOR=1.65, CI=1.38-2.12), those who take healthcare decisions alone (AOR=1.53, CI=1.24-1.89), and those who listened to radio less than once a week (AOR= 1.30, CI=1.10-1.53) had higher odds of antenatal care uptake. Also, women with secondary/higher level of education (AOR=1.83, CI=1.25-2.68), those whose partners had secondary/higher level of education (AOR=1.40, CI=1.11-1.76), those in the richest wealth quintile (AOR=10.79, CI=6.64-17.51), those with planned pregnancies (AOR=1.25, CI=1.03-1.52), Christian women (AOR=4.13, CI=3.17-5.39), those living in urban areas (AOR=3.00, CI=2.29-3.94), women with one birth (AOR= 1.58, CI=1.20-2.06), those who take healthcare decisions alone (AOR=1.87, CI=1.46-2.39), those who read newspaper at least once a week (AOR= 1.19, CI=1.01-1.40), those who watched television at least once week (AOR=1.69, CI=1.30-2.19), and those in female-headed households (AOR=1.52, CI=1.20-1.92) were more likely to utilize the services of skilled birth attendants.

CONCLUSION

The study proved that various socio-economic and contextual factors influence antenatal care and skilled birth attendance in Guinea. These findings suggest the need to design community-based interventions (e.g., miniature local ANC clinics, early screening services) that prioritize women's education and vocational training, media accessibility, especially among the poor, and those residing in rural settings. Such interventions should not ignore the influence of other socio-cultural norms that hinder the utilization of antenatal care and skilled birth attendance services in Guinea.

Trends and determinants of an acceptable antenatal care coverage in Ethiopia, evidence from 2005-2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey; Multivariate decomposition analysis

Background

an acceptable antenatal care (ANC4+) is defined as attending at least four antenatal care visit, received at least one dose of tetanus toxoid (TT) injections and consumed 100 iron-folic acids (IFA) tablets/syrup during the last pregnancy. Since maternal health care service utilization continues to be an essential indicator for monitoring the improvements of maternal and child health outcomes. This study aimed to analyze the trends and determinants that contributed to the change in an acceptable antenatal care visit over the last 10 years in Ethiopia.

Methods

Nationally representative repeated cross-sectional survey was conducted using 2005, 2011, and 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey datasets. The data were weighted and analyzed by STATA 14.1 software. Multivariate decomposition regression analysis was used to identify factors that contribute for the change in an acceptable antenatal care visit. A p-value < 0.05 was taken to declare statistically significant predictors to acceptable antenatal care visit.

Results

among the reproductive age women the rate of an acceptable antenatal care visits was increased from 16% in 2005 to 35% in 2016 in Ethiopia. In the multivariate decomposition analysis, about 29% of the increase in acceptable antenatal care visit was due to a difference in composition of women (endowments) across the surveys. Residence, religion, husband educational attainment, and wealth status was the main source of compositional change factors for the improvements of an acceptable antenatal care visit. Almost two-thirds of an overall change in acceptable antenatal care visit was due to the difference in coefficients/ change in behavior of the population. Religion, educational attainment (both women and husband), and residence are significantly contributed to the change in full antenatal care visit in Ethiopia over the last decades.

Conclusion

Besides the relevance of receiving an acceptable antenatal care visit for pregnant women and their babies, an acceptable antenatal care visit was slightly increased over time in Ethiopia. Women’s characteristics and behavior change were significantly associated with the change in acceptable antenatal care visits. Public interventions needed to improve acceptable antenatal care coverage, women’s education, and further advancing of health care facilities in rural communities should be done to maintain the further improvements acceptable antenatal care visits.

Determinants of Frequency and Content of Antenatal Care in Postnatal Mothers in Arba Minch Zuria District, SNNPR, Ethiopia, 2019

Background

Antenatal care is one of the strategies for reducing maternal morbidity and mortality directly by affording increased chances of early detection of high-risk pregnancies. WHO recommends a minimum of four ANC visits. In order to make it effective, monitoring of the content and quality of the ANC is needed. However, a number of studies focus on the frequency of ANC, and evidence on core contents of the ANC was limited in this study area. The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with content of the ANC.

Methods and Materials

A cross-sectional study design was employed to collect data from a total of 432 respondents by using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were entered in EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Both binary logistic regression and generalized linear regression with Poisson type were applied to determine factors associated with frequency of the ANC and core contents of ANC, respectively.

Results

The majority of the mothers (78.7%) visited first ANC lately, and 25.2% of mothers attended ≥4 ANC visits. Only 17.1% of mothers received all the eight selected elements of ANC services. Predictors of the core contents of the ANC were the frequencies of ANC (AOR: 0.84 (95%CI: 0.76–0.93), pre-pregnancy utilization of contraception (0.63 (95%CI: 0.55–0.72)), pregnancy desire (AOR: 0.82 (95%CI: 0.71–0.94), and birth preparedness and complication readiness (AOR: 0.90 (95%CI: 0.82–0.98).

Conclusion

This study found that low level of WHO minimum recommended ANC and core contents of the ANC. This study suggests that identifying pregnant mothers early increases frequency of the ANC, which improves core content of care.

Individual-, household-, and community-level factors associated with eight or more antenatal care contacts in Nigeria: Evidence from Demographic and Health Survey

INTRODUCTION

Antenatal care (ANC) is a vital mechanism for women to obtain close attention during pregnancy and prevent death-related issues. Moreover, it improves the involvement of women in the continuum of health care and to survive high-risk pregnancies. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of and identify the associated factors of eight or more ANC contacts in Nigeria.

METHODS

We used a nationally representative cross-sectional data from Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey-2018. A total sample of 7,936 women were included in this study. Prevalence was measured in percentages and the factors for eight or more ANC contacts were examined using multilevel multivariable binary logistic regression model. The level of significance was set at P<0.05.

RESULTS

The prevalence of eight or more ANC contacts in Nigeria was approximately 17.4% (95% CI: 16.1%-18.7%). Women with at least secondary education were 2.46 times as likely to have eight or more ANC contacts, when compared with women with no formal education. Women who use media were 2.37 times as likely to have eight or more ANC contacts, when compared with women who do not use media. For every unit increase in the time (month) of ANC initiation, there was 53% reduction in the odds of eight or more ANC contacts. Rural women had 60% reduction in the odds of eight or more ANC contacts, when compared with their urban counterparts. Women from North East and North West had 74% and 79% reduction respectively in the odds of eight or more ANC contacts, whereas women from South East, South South and South West were 2.68, 5.00 and 14.22 times respectively as likely to have eight or more ANC contacts when compared with women from North Central.

CONCLUSION

The coverage of eight or more ANC contacts was low and can be influenced by individual-, household-, and community-level factors. There should be concerted efforts to improve maternal socioeconomic status, as well as create awareness among key population for optimal utilization of ANC.

Assessment of Quality of Antenatal Care Services and Its Determinant Factors in Public Health Facilities of Hossana Town, Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A Longitudinal Study

Background. Antenatal care is a care that links the woman and her family with the formal health system, increases the chance of using a skilled attendant at birth, and contributes to good health through the life cycle. Inadequate care during this time breaks a critical link in the continuum of care and affects both women and babies. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to determine the quality of ANC in Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Method. A longitudinal facility-based study design was conducted among 1123 mothers whose gestational age of less than 16 weeks was identified and followed until birth and 40 days after birth to detect whether they gained the acceptable standard of quality of ANC from July 2017 to June 2018. A structured, predefined, and pretested observation check list and Likert scales were employed to obtain the necessary information after getting both written and verbal consent from the concerned bodies and study participants. Data was entered into Epi Info version 3.5 and transferred to STATA Version 14 software and cleaned by reviewing frequency tables, logical errors, and checking outliers. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis was applied to get the average response observation of each visit of quality of ANC in the health facilities. Result. This study showed that the overall magnitude of good quality of antenatal care service that was provided in the whole visit at Hosanna Town’s public health facilities was 1230 (31.38%). The most frequently identified problems were inability to take full history, lack of proper counseling, poor healthcare provider and client interaction, and improper registration and there was a variation in providing quality of care in each visit. Quality of antenatal care was significantly associated with residence, educational status gravidity, parity, and visit. In conclusion, the overall quality of antenatal care is low, so the health facilities need further modification on the identified problems.

Women's knowledge and its associated factors regarding optimum utilisation of antenatal care in rural Ghana: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Improving maternal health is a global public health challenge especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The optimum utilisation of antenatal care (ANC) by pregnant women is known to improve maternal health outcomes. Maternal morbidity and mortality rates in Ghana remain unacceptably high, particularly in rural settings where skilled delivery care often times is disproportionally low. This study assessed factors associated with optimum utilisation of antenatal care in rural Ghana.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was applied to collect data among eligible participants between October 2018 and January 2019. A total of 322 women who gave birth and attended the postnatal clinic were recruited for the study. Consecutive sampling was employed in recruiting participants. The associations between the dependent variables (ANC service utilisation and knowledge of ANC) and independent variables (socio-demographic characteristics) were examined using ordinary least squares logistic regression at 95% confidence interval in STATA version 14.0.

RESULTS

Of the 322 participants, 69.0% reported utilising at least four or more times ANC services. Determinants of women attending ANC for four or more times was significantly associated with age [OR = 4.36 (95%CI: 2.16-8.80), p<0.001], educational level [OR = 10.18 (95%CI: 3.86-26.87), p<0.001], and insured with National Health Insurance Scheme [OR = 3.42 (95%CI: 1.72-6.82), p<0.001]. Not married [OR = 0.65 (0.39-1.09), p = 0.011] or divorced [OR = 0.33 (95%CI: 0.13-0.83), p = 0.019] was negatively associated with utilisation of four or more ANC services. The majority (79.0%) of the participants had a good level of knowledge regarding antenatal care.

CONCLUSION

Although the majority of women in this study had good knowledge of ANC services, a significant number of them did not complete the recommended number of ANC visits for at least four times during a normal pregnancy. Awareness and further education to reproductive-age women on the significant role adequate ANC attendance plays in advancing health and well-being require further investments, particularly among rural women in Ghana.

Unattended Pregnancies and Perinatal Mortality in Georgia

Introduction

The majority of pregnant women in Georgia attend the free-of-charge, national antenatal care (ANC) programme, but over 5% of pregnancies in the country are unattended. Moreover, Georgia has one of the highest perinatal mortality (PM) rates in Europe (11.7/1000 births).

Purpose

To assess the association between unattended pregnancies and the risk of PM.

Methods

Data were extracted from the Georgian Birth Registry (GBR) and the national vital registration system. All mothers who had singleton births and delivered in medical facilities in Georgia in 2017–2018 were included in the study and categorised into attended pregnancies (at least one ANC visit during pregnancy) and unattended pregnancies (no ANC visits during pregnancy). After exclusions, the study sample included 101,663 women and their newborns, of which 1186 were either stillborn or died within 7 days. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the effect of unattended pregnancies on PM.

Results

During the study period, the PM rate was 12.9/1000 births. In total, 5.6% of women had unattended pregnancies. The odds of PM among women with unattended pregnancies were more than double those among women with attended pregnancies (odds ratio=2.21, [95% confidence interval: 1.81–2.70]). Multiparous women with higher education and who resided/delivered outside of Tbilisi were significantly less likely to experience PM.

Conclusion

The risk of PM doubled among women with unattended pregnancies. Six percent of PM cases were attributable to unattended pregnancies. Targeting women with previous unattended pregnancies will likely reduce the PM rate in Georgia.

Regional disparities in antenatal care utilization in Indonesia

INTRODUCTION

The main strategy for decreasing maternal morbidity and mortality has been antenatal care (ANC). ANC aims to monitor and maintain the health and safety of the mother and the fetus, detect all complications of pregnancy and take the necessary actions, respond to complaints, prepare for birth, and promote a healthy lifestyle. This study aims to analyze interregional disparities in ≥4 ANC visits during pregnancy in Indonesia.

METHODS

Data was acquired from the 2017 Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS). The unit of analysis was women aged 15-49 years old, and a sample of 15,351 women was obtained. In addition to ANC as the dependent variable, the other variables analyzed in this study were a place of residence, age, husband/partner, education, parity, wealth status, and health insurance. For the final analysis, binary logistic regression was used to determine disparity.

RESULTS

With the Papua region as a reference, all regions showed a gap except for the Maluku region, which was not significantly different in the use of ANC compared to the Papua region. Women in the Nusa Tenggara have 4.365 times the chance of making ≥4 ANC visits compared to those in the Papua region (95% CI 3.229-5.899). Women in Java-Bali have 3.607 times the chance of making ≥4 ANC visits compared to women in the Papua region (95% CI 2.741-4.746). Women in Sumatra have 1.370 times the chance of making ≥4 ANC visits compared to women in the Papua region (95% CI 1.066-1.761). Women in Kalimantan have 2.232 times the chance of making ≥4 ANC visits compared to women in the Papua region (1.664-2.994). Women in Sulawesi have 1.980 times more chance of making ≥4 ANC visits compared to women in the Papua region (1.523-2.574). In addition to the region category, other variables that contributed to the predictor were age, husband/partner, education, parity, wealth and insurance.

CONCLUSION

There were disparities in ANC utilization between the various regions of Indonesia. The structured policy is needed to reach regions that have low coverage of ≥4 ANC. Policymakers need to use the results of this study to take the necessary policies. Policies that focus on service equality to reduce disparities.

Regional disparities in antenatal care utilization in Indonesia

INTRODUCTION

The main strategy for decreasing maternal morbidity and mortality has been antenatal care (ANC). ANC aims to monitor and maintain the health and safety of the mother and the fetus, detect all complications of pregnancy and take the necessary actions, respond to complaints, prepare for birth, and promote a healthy lifestyle. This study aims to analyze interregional disparities in ≥4 ANC visits during pregnancy in Indonesia.

METHODS

Data was acquired from the 2017 Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS). The unit of analysis was women aged 15-49 years old, and a sample of 15,351 women was obtained. In addition to ANC as the dependent variable, the other variables analyzed in this study were a place of residence, age, husband/partner, education, parity, wealth status, and health insurance. For the final analysis, binary logistic regression was used to determine disparity.

RESULTS

With the Papua region as a reference, all regions showed a gap except for the Maluku region, which was not significantly different in the use of ANC compared to the Papua region. Women in the Nusa Tenggara have 4.365 times the chance of making ≥4 ANC visits compared to those in the Papua region (95% CI 3.229-5.899). Women in Java-Bali have 3.607 times the chance of making ≥4 ANC visits compared to women in the Papua region (95% CI 2.741-4.746). Women in Sumatra have 1.370 times the chance of making ≥4 ANC visits compared to women in the Papua region (95% CI 1.066-1.761). Women in Kalimantan have 2.232 times the chance of making ≥4 ANC visits compared to women in the Papua region (1.664-2.994). Women in Sulawesi have 1.980 times more chance of making ≥4 ANC visits compared to women in the Papua region (1.523-2.574). In addition to the region category, other variables that contributed to the predictor were age, husband/partner, education, parity, wealth and insurance.

CONCLUSION

There were disparities in ANC utilization between the various regions of Indonesia. The structured policy is needed to reach regions that have low coverage of ≥4 ANC. Policymakers need to use the results of this study to take the necessary policies. Policies that focus on service equality to reduce disparities.

Utilisation, equity and determinants of full antenatal care in India: analysis from the National Family Health Survey 4

OBJECTIVES

We examined the utilisation, equity and determinants of full antenatal care (ANC), defined as 4 or more antenatal visits, at least one tetanus toxoid (TT) injection and consumption of iron folic acid (IFA) for a minimum of 100 days, in India.

METHODS

We analysed a sample of 190,898 women from India's National Family Health Survey 4. Concentration curves and concentration index were used to assess equity in full ANC utilisation. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to examine the factors associated with full ANC utilisation.

RESULTS

In India, 21% of pregnant women utilised full ANC, ranging from 2.3-65.9% across states. Overall, 51.6% had 4 or more ANC visits, 30.8% consumed IFA for atleast 100 days, and 91.1% had one or more doses of tetanus toxoid. Full ANC utilisation was inequitable across place of residence, caste and maternal education. Registration of pregnancy, utilisation of government's Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and health insurance coverage were associated with higher odds of full ANC utilisation. Lower maternal education, lower wealth quintile(s), lack of father's participation during antenatal visits, higher birth order, teenage and unintended pregnancy were associated with lower odds of full ANC utilisation.

CONCLUSIONS

Full ANC utilisation in India was inadequate and inequitable. Although half of the women did not receive the minimum recommended ANC visits, the utilisation of TT immunisation was almost universal. The positive association of full ANC with ICDS utilisation and child's father involvement may be leveraged for increasing the uptake of full ANC. Strategies to address the socio-demographic factors associated with low and inequitable utilisation of full ANC are imperative for strengthening India's maternal health program.

Determinants of maternal health care and birth outcome in the Dande Health and Demographic Surveillance System area, Angola

Objectives

Maternal health care improvement and reduction of maternal and child mortality are priorities of the global health agenda. In Angola, maternal mortality remains high and the risk of pregnancy-related death was 1 in 32 during 2015. This study aims to identify demographic and social factors influencing antenatal care and health facility delivery among women in Dande and to understand their impact on birth outcomes.

Methods

This study is based on community–based longitudinal data collected by the Dande Health and Demographic Surveillance System between 2009 and 2015. Data on pregnancy outcomes (10,289 outcomes of 8,066 women) were collected for all reported pregnancies, including sociodemographic information, health services utilisation and women’s reproductive history. Logistic regression was used to investigate the determinants of birth outcomes, antenatal care attendance and institutionalised delivery.

Findings

Of the 10,289 pregnancy outcomes, 98.5% resulted in live births, 96.8% attended antenatal care, and 82.5% had four or more visits. Yet, 50.7% of the women delivered outside a health facility. Antenatal care attendance was a determinant of birth outcomes (stillbirth: unadjusted OR = 0.34 95% CI = 0.16–0.70; abortion: OR = 0.07 95% CI = 0.04–0.12). Older women, with lower education, living at a greater distance of a health facility and in rural areas, were less likely to use maternal health care. Having had previous pregnancies, namely resulting in live births, also decreased the likelihood of health care utilization by pregnant women.

Conclusions

The study identifies relevant social determinants for the utilisation of antenatal care, place of delivery and their impact on birth outcome, thereby providing insight on how best to address inequities in health care utilization.

The quality of maternal-fetal and newborn care services in Jordan: a qualitative focus group study

Background

The antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods are considered high-risk periods for the health of mothers and their newborns. Although the current utilization rate of some maternal and child care services in Jordan is encouraging, detailed information about the quality of these services is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the quality of maternal-fetal and newborn antenatal care (ANC), delivery, and postnatal care (PNC) services in Jordan.

Methods

We conducted 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) with pregnant and postpartum women who attended maternal-child care services in three major hospitals in Jordan. All FGDs were recorded and transcribed verbatim. An inductive thematic analysis approach was used to identify themes and subthemes.

Results

The content analysis of the FGDs revealed a consensus among the discussants regarding the importance of ANC and PNC services for the health of mothers and their newborns. However, the participating women viewed ANC to be much more important than PNC. With regards to the choice between public and private antenatal care services, some of the discussants were disposed towards the private sector. Reasons for this included longer consultation time, a higher quality of services, better interpersonal and communication skills of healthcare providers, better treatment, more advanced equipment and devices, availability of female obstetricians, and more flexible appointment times. These women only perceived public hospital services to be necessary in cases of pregnancy-related complications and labor, as the costs of private sector services in such cases are too high. The findings also revealed that mothers usually only seek PNC services to check up on their newborn’s health and not their own.

Conclusion

Visiting private ANC clinics throughout pregnancy while giving birth in public facilities leads to the discontinuity and fragmentation in maternal-fetal and child healthcare services. To address this fragmentation, healthcare systems are proposed to establish interprofessional teamwork that requires different healthcare providers with complementary skills and practices in both public and private settings to work co-operatively and collectively. Investment in new technologies and interventions which enhance coordination and collaboration between public and private healthcare settings is necessary for the provision of non-traditional maternal healthcare.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12913-019-4232-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Exploring maternal and health professional beliefs about the factors that affect whether women in Saudi Arabia attend antenatal care clinic appointments

OBJECTIVE

Effective antenatal care is important for the health and wellbeing of pregnant women and infants. However, in Saudi Arabia, attendance rates are low, increasing the risk of negative birth outcomes. The aim of this research is to understand the beliefs of pregnant women and health professionals about the factors leading to these low attendance rates.

METHODOLOGY

A qualitative exploratory study-using semi structured face-to-face interviews. Interviews were conducted exploring (a) attitudes to the use of antenatal care by pregnant Saudi women, (b) beliefs of women regarding the value of antenatal care and (c) perceived barriers to attendance.

SETTING

Data were collected from three hospitals in two regions of Saudi Arabia.

PARTICIPANTS

Women at any stage of their pregnancy attending for antenatal care or ultrasound, women attending postnatal clinic, and health professionals (obstetricians) who support women during pregnancy and birth.

FINDINGS

Although mothers viewed antenatal care as important for maternal and infant health, several barriers to attending care were identified by mothers and professionals. These factors were classified into three themes: physical barriers (e.g., lack of transport), low maternal education, and inadequate healthcare facilities (including negative staff attitudes and poor communication). These factors were exacerbated by the beliefs of partners and family. Notably, the theme of low maternal education was raised only by health professionals, whilst the theme of staff attitudes and communication was raised only by mothers.

KEY CONCLUSIONS

Barriers to antenatal care exist at the personal, social, socioeconomic and health services level. Some health professionals may be unaware of the importance of their communication style. Interventions to improve attendance must be multifaceted rather than focussing on individual women alone.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Barriers for women attending antenatal healthcare must be addressed in order to increase attendance rates. Specific practice-based interventions may involve changing the time or location of services and exploring changes to staff communication with women.

Effective coverage of essential antenatal care interventions: A cross-sectional study of public primary healthcare clinics in the West Bank

BACKGROUND

The proportion of women attending four or more antenatal care (ANC) visits is widely used for monitoring, but provides limited information on quality of care. Effective coverage metrics, assessing if ANC interventions are completely delivered, can identify critical gaps in healthcare service delivery. We aimed to measure coverage of at least one screening and effective coverage of ANC interventions in the public health system in the West Bank, Palestine, and to explore associations between infrastructure-related and maternal sociodemographic variables and effective coverage.

METHODS

We used data from paper-based clinical records of 1369 pregnant women attending ANC in 17 primary healthcare clinics. Infrastructure-related variables were derived from a 2014 national inventory assessment of clinics. Sample size calculations were made to detect effective coverage ranging 40-60% with a 2-3% margin of error, clinics were selected by probability sampling. We calculated inverse probability weighted percentages of: effective coverage of appropriate number and timing of screenings of ANC interventions; and coverage of at least one screening.

RESULTS

Coverage of one screening and effective coverage of ANC interventions were notably different for screening for: hypertension (98% vs. 10%); fetal growth abnormalities (66% vs. 6%); anemia (93% vs. 14%); gestational diabetes (93% vs. 34%), and antenatal ultrasound (74% vs. 24%). Clinics with a laboratory and ultrasound generally performed better in terms of effective coverage, and maternal sociodemographic factors had no associations with effective coverage estimates. Only 13% of the women attended ANC visits according to the recommended national schedule, driving effective coverage down.

CONCLUSION

Indicators for ANC monitoring and their definitions can have important consequences for quantifying health system performance and identifying issues with care provision. To achieve more effective coverage in public primary care clinics in the West Bank, efforts should be made to improve care provision according to prescribed guidelines.