Late antenatal visit and associated factors

Ali, Samah Shabeen; Mohammed, Shaimaa; El- Nemer, Amina

doi:10.21608/mnj.2023.321876

Late antenatal visit and associated factors

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ woman's health and midwifery nursing

² Lecturer of Woman's Health and Midwifery Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt

³ Professor of Woman's Health and Midwifery Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt

10.21608/mnj.2023.321876

Abstract

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is important for maternal and fetal health. As early as the first trimester, ANC visits
should begin and continue throughout the second and third trimester. Long distances or times to health facilities, lack of
health insurance, low socioeconomic status, low levels of education, parity, limited understanding of the benefits of ANC,
employment status, cultural norms and ethnicity and communication between health workers are just a few of the factors
that contribute to late ANC initiation. Aim: This study aimed to assess late antenatal visits and associated factors among
pregnant women. Design: A descriptive study design was used. Setting: This study was carried out at antenatal clinics of
Obstetric and Gynecological Specialty Center at Mansoura University Hospitals, Mansoura, Egypt. Study sample: A
convenient sample of 384 pregnant women was utilized. Tools: One tool was used; a structured interview questionnaire
which consists of four parts: socio Demographic factors, obstetric history, sociocultural factors and health system factors.
Results: More than two thirds of them were far from health system, had expensive transport cost &their family size was 3-
5.. More than half of them had previous pregnancy complications. Nearly three quarters of the pregnant women reported
fear of disclosure, the majority of them reported fear of evil eye, lack of husband support. Less than two thirds of the
pregnant women reported low quality of services received during ANC while more than one third of them reported high
ANC quality. Conclusion: There was a statistically significant association between the studied women's first antenatal
visit and their sociodemographic, obstetric, sociocultural and health system factors. Recommendation: Increasing the
awareness of pregnant women about the importance of early attendance to antenatal clinics.

Keywords