EFFECT OF ANTENATAL CARE ON MATERNAL AND NEONATAL OUTCOMES IN WOMEN'S HEALTH HOSPITAL

Introduction: Good antenatal care (ANC) reduces maternal and neonatal mortality and improves health outcomes, particularly in low-income countries. World Health Organization recommendation of initiation of antenatal care within the first four months of pregnancy and at least four antenatal care visits during the course of an uncomplicated pregnancy. Inadequate care during this time breaks a critical link in the continuum of care and affects both women and her neonate. Objectives: The aim of the study was to identify effects of antenatal care on maternal and neonatal outcomes in Women Health Hospital Subjects & Method: Three hundred parous women and their neonates conducted a comparative study. They were divided into two groups' according to parity the first group (primipara =150), and the second group (high parity=150) and divided every group into two groups the first was poor antenatal care and other was adequate antenatal care during the period from February 2017 to August 2017 using a stratified sampling. Results: Most of the primipara women had poor antenatal care (88%) but high parity (67.3%). There was the highly significant relationship between two groups. More than half were had poor antenatal care (60.3%) but less than half were adequate antenatal care. The most common complication in primipara group was eclampsia (36.4%) while in high parity group was anemia (14.3%) in poor antenatal care. The most common complication in labor was premature rupture of membrane (19.0% & 14.3%) respectively, in poor antenatal care of two groups. In primipara group, the proportion of low birth weight was 16.0% in poor antenatal care, while stillbirth was (11.0%) inadequate antenatal care also neonatal weight in Kg related to poor antenatal care and adequate antenatal care were (2.636 ± 0.659 &
3.050 ± 0.503) respectively. In high parity group, the proportion of Special Care Baby  Units admission was 12.2% in poor antenatal care, while Special Care Baby Unit admission was 11.9% inadequate antenatal care also neonatal weight related to poor antenatal care and adequate antenatal care were (2.973 ± .709 & 3.081 ± 0.643) respectively. Conclusion: Good quality antenatal care promote the health of the mother and decreases the percentage of iron deficiency anemia, gestational hypertension and before term labor and promote maternal outcomes, including a reduced risk of under birth weight, preterm neonates and Special Care Baby Unit admission. Recommendations: the women should have access to good quality antenatal care. Both the woman and the neonatal are at a greater risk during pregnancy and labor. This risk can be reduced with good antenatal care and delivery by trained personnel. And awareness of the adverse impact of high parity on obstetric