Frequency Of Antenatal Care Research Articles

Relationship between Antenatal Care and Pregnancy Outcome among Participants of a Rural Upazilla Health Complex in Bangladesh

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is crucial for monitoring pregnancy and improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the relationship between ANC and pregnancy outcomes among participants at rural upazilla health complex, like Sariakandi Upazilla of Bangladesh. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Upazilla Health Complex in Saniakandi, Bangladesh included 45 pregnant women selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected from medical records and structured interviews to gather information on demographics, obstetric history, clinical history, and specifics of ANC. Maternal outcomes of interest included preeclampsia and postpartum hemorrhage, while neonatal outcomes included gestational age at birth, birth weight, Apgar scores, and NICU admissions. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, and Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to explore the relationship between the number of antenatal visits and pregnancy outcomes. Results: Most participants were aged 21-30 (55.6%) with secondary education (80.0%) and were predominantly housewives (97.8%). Preeclampsia was diagnosed in 6.7% of participants, and postpartum hemorrhage occurred in 2.2%. All cases of preeclampsia and postpartum hemorrhage occurred in women with fewer than 4 antenatal visits, indicating a strong negative correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.82). Neonatal outcomes showed that 2.2% of newborns were preterm, and 17.8% had low birth weight. Higher frequency of ANC visits correlated positively with better Apgar scores at 1 minute (Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.71) and 5 minutes (Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.61). Conclusion: The study highlights the critical role of frequent and timely ANC in improving maternal and neonatal outcomes. Enhanced ANC accessibility and early initiation are essential for reducing the risks of adverse outcomes, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Frequency of Antenatal Care: Does It Affect Pregnant Women's Anxiety in the Third Trimester?: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Antenatal Care (ANC) is a visit carried out by pregnant women to check the health status of their pregnancy. In Indonesia, 11 provinces have still not achieved the ANC visit target based on the Ministry of Health's 2017 Strategic Plan. The impact for pregnant women who do not make ANC visits is increased mortality and morbidity rates, undetected abnormalities, lack of information, and even anxiety. Method: This research uses a cross-sectional method. Spearman rank analysis was used to analyze data on 42 respondents at the Jatiasih District Health Center, Bekasi. Results: This study shows that there is a relationship between the frequency of ANC visits and anxiety of pregnant women in the third trimester with a p-value of 0.002 and r = 0.474. Conclusion: Pregnant women need to make ANC visits according to the regulations recommended by the government to protect their babies and their health status.

Determinants of chronic energy deficiency (CED) incidence in pregnant women: A cross-sectional study in Banyumas, Indonesia.

Chronic energy deficiency (CED) in pregnant women is a condition of energy and protein deficiency that lasts for years and causes problems in the mother and fetus. Due to its significant consequences, determining the determinants associated with CED incidence is of utmost importance. The aim of this study was to determine the determinants of the incidence of CED in pregnant women in Indonesia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant women in Banyumas, Central Java, Indonesia, in 2022. Plausible determinants included maternal age, pregnancy interval, parity, educational attainment, nutritional knowledge, employment, frequency of antenatal care (ANC), and nutritional intake. The Chi-squared test followed by multivariate logistic regression were used to determine the factors associated with the incidence of CED. Our data indicated that 32% of the pregnant women had CED. Univariate analysis found that maternal age (p=0.022), pregnancy interval (p=0.009), educational attainment (p=0.012), knowledge of nutrition and CED (p=0.023), frequency of utilization of ANC services (p=0.028), energy intake (p=0.002), protein intake (p=0.006), vitamin C intake (p=0.016), folate intake (p=0.011), and calcium intake (p=0.004) were significantly associated with CED incidence in the pregnant women. Multivariate analysis indicated that extreme maternal age (OR; 3.49; 95%CI: 1.10-11.05), low educational attainment (OR: 4.12; 95%CI: 1.37-12.33), short pregnancy interval (OR; 7.30; 95%CI: 1.84-28.99), low frequency of ANC (OR: 3.06; 95%CI: 1.01-9.19) and low protein intake (OR: 6.80; 95%CI: 1.62-28.59) were associated with CED incidence. This study underscores the importance of increasing nutritional intake, frequency of ANC, and pregnancy interval among pregnant women to reduce the risk of CED and its adverse health outcomes.

Do timing and frequency of antenatal care make a difference in maternal micronutrient intake and breastfeeding practices? Insights from a multi-country study in South Asia.

Despite the established benefits of vitamins and minerals for maternal and neonatal health, global micronutrient deficiency remains a significant concern. As such, the World Health Organization advocates timely antenatal care (ANC) initiation and micronutrient supplementation for expectant mothers. This study investigates the association between ANC timing and frequency and maternal health behaviours, specifically iron-folic acid (IFA) intake, early breastfeeding initiation, and exclusive breastfeeding among married women in South Asia. By utilizing recent Demographic and Health Survey data, this study focuses on married women aged 15-49 in Bangladesh (N = 966), India (N = 89,472), and Pakistan (N = 1,005), specifically primiparous women with children aged 0-23 months living with the motherMultivariable analysis revealed that women receiving ≥4 ANC visits were more likely to consume IFA ≥90 days compared to those with fewer visits in Bangladesh (AOR: 1.85, 95% CI [1.30, 2.63]), India (AOR: 1.87, 95% CI [1.81, 1.94]), and Pakistan (AOR: 1.92, 95% CI [1.24, 2.97]). Women receiving first ANC in the second or third trimester were less likely to consume IFC for ≥90 days compared to those with first-trimester ANC. While the ANC timing did not significantly influence early breastfeeding initiation, ANC frequency was inversely associated with delayed initiation in all countries. Breastfeeding advice during ANC visits was significantly associated with reduced odds of delayed breastfeeding initiation. Neither ANC timing nor frequency significantly predicted exclusive breastfeeding, except for breastfeeding advice in India. This study highlights the importance of ANC in maternal and child health outcomes. ANC timing and frequency, along with breastfeeding advice during ANC, notably influence maternal IFA consumption and early breastfeeding initiation. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions during ANC visits to enhance maternal and child health practices in low- and middle-income countries.

Interplay of sociodemographic factors and antenatal care attendance with free maternal care policy: a case study of Ghana

IntroductionThe Free Maternal Care Policy (FMCP) was introduced in Ghana around 2008 as part of the government’s efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes in the country. The policy...

Validation of maternal recall of number of antenatal care visits attended in rural Southern Nepal: a longitudinal cohort study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the validity of maternal recall of total number of antenatal care (ANC) visits during pregnancy and factors associated with the accuracy of maternal recall.DesignThis was...

Determinants Affecting the Utilization of Antenatal Care Services by Women of Childbearing Age Visiting the Antenatal Care Clinic at Kyabugimbi Health Centre IV, Bushenyi District

This research analyzed the utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services among pregnant women at Kyabugimbi Health Centre IV in Bushenyi District, Uganda. The study found that a significant percentage of women attended their first ANC visit late in their pregnancy, with only 20% receiving ANC within the recommended 0-3 months. A majority of the women had never heard about ANC or attended it in previous pregnancies. While 44% of the women attended ANC four or more times, indicating awareness of the recommended ANC frequency, 74% did not seek ANC at all. Most of the women with unplanned pregnancies did not utilize ANC services. The study concluded that 51.9% of pregnant women experienced delayed antenatal care, with 50.6% presenting between 4-6 months of gestation and 1.3% presenting at 7-9 months. These findings highlight the need for improved awareness and access to ANC services. Keywords: Pregnant women; Antenatal Care; Mothers; Planned pregnancy; unplanned pregnancy.

The Relationship Between Spiritual Well-Being and Frequency of Antenatal Care (ANC) Visits with Anxiety in Pregnant Women During the Third Trimester at Singkawang Tengah II Public Health Centers

ABSTRACT Pregnancy is an important period in a woman's life. The physical and emotional changes that occur during this time can trigger excessive anxiety, especially in the third trimester, especially before childbirth, which is 107,000 or 28.7%. The frequency of maternal visits to check on her pregnancy (ANC) and the condition of her spiritual well-being are important keys to overcoming anxiety. There is a gap between K1 and K4 coverage of 7.9%. Anxiety that occurs during pregnancy can lead to hypertension, premature birth, and low birth weight. This study aims to determine the direct relationship between spiritual well-being and frequency of ANC with anxiety before childbirth in third-trimester pregnant women at the Singkawang Tengah II Public Health Center. The research type is descriptive quantitative using a correlational method approach.The sample size was 62 respondents using a consecutive sampling technique.The instrument adopted the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire (PRAQ-R2) and a modification of the Spiritual Well-being Scale (SWBS).The statistical test used was Spearman Rank (rho). Characteristics of respondents include 53 people (85.5%) are in the age category that is not at high risk for pregnancy (20-35 years), have a secondary education background (SMU / SMK), as many as 33 people (53.2%) and respondents do not work as many as 52 people (83.9%). A high percentage of respondents (61.3%) had moderate spiritual well-being, with the frequency of ANC visits fulfilled by 44 people (71.0%), and the anxiety level of 38 people (61.3%) was in a low category. There is a significant negative relationship between spiritual well-being and anxiety, as evidenced by the correlation coefficient of 0.385 with p-value=0.002 (p<0.05), and there is a meaningful negative relationship between frequency of ANC visits and anxiety, as evidenced by the correlation coefficient of 0.308 with p-value=0.015 (p<0.05). Spiritual well-being and antenatal care visits negatively correlated with a weak strength of correlation to the level of anxiety in pregnant women. The closer the mother is to God, the more she is willing to undergo trials during pregnancy which gives her peace of mind. Completing ANC increases the mother's understanding of pregnancy and childbirth to reduce anxiety. Keywords : Spiritual Well-Being, Anxiety, ANC, Pregnancy. ABSTRAK Kehamilan adalah masa yang penting dalam hidup seorang wanita. Perubahan fisik dan emosional yang tejadi dimasa ini dapat memicu kecemasan berlebih khususnya pada trimester ketiga, terlebih menjelang persalinan yaitu sebesar 107.000 atau 28,7%. Frekuensi kunjungan ibu dalam memeriksakan kehamilannya (ANC) dan kondisi kesejahteraan spiritual yang dimiliki ibu menjadi kunci penting dalam mengatasi kecemasan. Faktanya, terdapat kesenjangan antara cakupan K1 dan K4 sebesar 7,9%. Kecemasan yang terjadi dimasa kehamilan dapat mengakibatkan hipertensi, kelahiran prematur dan berat lahir rendah. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan langsung antara kesejahteraan spiritual dan frekuensi ANC dengan kecemasan menjelang persalinan pada ibu hamil trimester tiga di Puskesmas Singkawang Tengah II. Jenis penelitian ini adalah deskriptif kuantitatif dengan menggunakan pendekatan metode korelasional. Jumlah sampel sebanyak 62 responden dengan menggunakan teknik consecutive sampling. Instrumen yang digunakan mengadopsi kuesioner Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaoire (PRAQ-R2) dan modifikasi dari Spiritual Well-being Scale (SWBS). Uji statistik yang digunakan adalah Rank Spearman (rho). Karakteristik responden meliputi 53 orang (85,5%) berada dalam kategori umur yang tidak beresiko tinggi untuk hamil (20-35 tahun), latar belakang pendidikan menengah (SMU/SMK) sebanyak 33 orang (53,2%) dan responden tidak bekerja sebanyak 52 orang (83,9%). Sebanyak 61,3% responden memiliki kesejahteraan spiritual sedang dengan frekuensi kunjungan ANC terpenuhi sebanyak 44 orang (71,0%) dan tingkat kecemasan sebanyak 38 orang (61,3%) berada pada kategori rendah. Terdapat hubungan negatif yang bermakna antara kesejahteraan spiritual dengan kecemasan, dibuktikan dari nilai koefisien korelasi sebesar 0,385 dengan p-Value=0,002 (p<0,05) dan terdapat hubungan negatif yang bermakna antara frekuensi kunjungan ANC dengan kecemasan, dibuktikan dari nilai koefisien korelasi sebesar 0,308 dengan p-Value=0,015 (p<0,05). Kesejahteraan spiritual dan kunjungan ANC berkorelasi negatif dengan kekuatan korelasi yang lemah terhadap tingkat kecemasan pada ibu hamil. Semakin dekat ibu dengan Tuhannya semakin ibu ikhlas menjalani ujian selama kehamilan yang membuatnya tenang. Terpenuhinya ANC meningkatkan pemahaman ibu tentang kehamilan, dan persalinan sehingga mampu mengurangi kecemasan. Kata Kunci: Kesejahteraan Spiritual, Kecemasan, ANC.

Development of pregnancy class with husband's assistance on the outcome of teenage pregnancy.

Teenage pregnancy is an international phenomenon without a definite solution to date. Globally, an estimated 16 million girls aged 15-19 give birth each year. Husbands need to play their assistance role in order to thwart the negative impact of the outcome of teenage pregnancy. To identify the effect of the development of Pregnancy Classes with the Husband's Assistance on the Outcome of Teenage Pregnancy in the Dayak community, Central Kalimantan. This was a quasi-experimental study with the posttest-only non-equivalent control group design involving the husband's assistance in pregnancy classes. The respondents were 60 individuals where 30 of them were given the pregnancy class assistance intervention while the other 30 were not given any intervention (control group). Pregnancy class with Assistance by the husband increases positive pregnancy outcomes 2.4 times compared to without the husband's assistance. Family support increases positive pregnancy outcomes 2.5 times compared to pregnant women without support from the family. Pregnant women that are highly motivated regarding antenatal care are likely to have positive pregnancy outcomes 5.4 times greater than pregnant women with low motivation. Based on the analysis, then the variables that have no effect are the history of antenatal care, frequency of antenatal care, and support from health workers. Pregnancy class with husband's assistance affects positive outcomes of teenage pregnancy. Other factors with meaningful influence on pregnancy outcomes include family support and motivation to seek teenage antenatal care. Furthermore, other factors that have no influence include the teenager's age, history of antenatal care, frequency of antenatal care, and support from health workers. An intervention is needed that involves the husband/partner in the form of active assistance.

The Effect of Covid-19 Pandemic anxiety on Breastfeeding Expenditure on Post Partum Mothers in Air Putih Bengkalis Village Health Center Working areas

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused many restrictions on almost all routines services, both in terms of access and quality, including restrictions on maternal and neonatal health services, such US a reduction in the frequency of antenatal care and postponement of classes for pregnant women. This condition can cause psychological problems for postpartum mothers, which can cause anxiety, the impacts of anxiety can cause breast milk production to not run smoothly and afraid of contracting Covid-19. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic anxiety on breastfeeding mothers post partum in the Air Putih village, the working area of the Bengkalis health center . The time of the research was carried out in June-July 2021. The place of research was carried out in the Air Putih village. The sample in this study were 32 respondents with a total sampling technique. The research instrument used the HARS questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out univariate and bivariate. Univariate results showed that the majority of anxiety levels experienced moderate anxiety with a percentage of 43.8%. The frequency of expulsion of breast milk in the majority of post partum mothers are not smooth with a percentage of 71.9%. The results of the bivariate analysis using the likelihood ratio test showed that the p value was 0.016 <0.05. the conclusion is that there is an influences of the anxiety of the Covid-19 pandemic on the expenditure of breast milk for post partum mothers in the Air Putih village, the working area of the Bengkalis health center . It is hoped that post partum mothers will not b too anxious about the transmission of covid-19 so that breastfeeding can continue smoothly and maintain health protocols during the covid-19 pandemic.

Association among Timing of First Visit, Antenatal Care Frequency, and Anaemia Gravidarum during the Peak Period of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Anaemia gravidarum is a health problem that affects pregnancy outcomes. Antenatal care is an effort to screen high-risk pregnancies to provide earlier appropriate management. In 2021, the pandemic forced people to limit their activities, including antenatal care (ANC) visits. The study aimed to explain the association among the timing of the first visit, ANC frequency, and incidence of anaemia gravidarum. The case-control study used the medical record data from Puskesmas Godean 2. The subjects were 30 pregnant women with anaemia in the case group and 30 non-anaemic pregnant women in the control group. The dependent variable was the incidence of anaemia gravidarum. Other variables included age, occupation, and education of the mother, partner’s education, parity status, pregnancy spacing, nutritional status, and history of comorbidities. The chi-square and logistic regression were used to analyse the data. It was found that ANC frequency of less than four times and first visit (K1) after passing the first trimester of gestational age increased the risk of anaemia gravidarum (p-value <0.05). Efforts to increase awareness of the importance of immediate first ANC visit and frequency of ANC visits need to be made to reduce the risk of anaemia gravidarum.

Determinants of successful exclusive breastfeeding on primiparas mothers

Background. Since 2016 the City of Surabaya has assisted for the first 1000 days of an infant’s life. The given mentoring aimed to reduce stunting and increase exclusive breastfeeding (EB) coverage. However, EB coverage has yet to be achieved. Objective. This study aimed to determine the effects of delayed onset of lactation, early initiation breastfeeding (EIBF), and frequency of antenatal care on exclusive breastfeeding in primipara mothers. Methods. The research design was cross-sectional, the number of samples was 131 out of 378 primipara mothers and lactating pregnant women selected by cluster random sampling. Chi-square and logistic regression analysis α=0.05. data was collected in April 2021. Results. The results showed that exclusive breastfeeding was associated with the onset of lactation and early initiation of breastfeeding (p-value = 0.022 and p-value = 0.014). EIBF and timely onset lactation had a greater chance of successful EB. Conclusion. EB and the timely onset of lactation are likely to determine the success of EB. Therefore, EIBF and lactation onset are enhanced for EB success.

Assessing the association between an early and recommended number of focused antenatal care visits and the number of prenatal care content received before delivery in Ethiopia.

Early and frequent antenatal care (ANC) has been linked to better pregnancy outcomes. This study assessed whether having at least four ANC contacts was associated with increased prenatal care content if the first visit was started in the first trimester in Ethiopia. Data from the 2019 Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey on 2894 women aged 15-49 who received ANC during their last pregnancy were analyzed. The sum of women's responses to six questions about ANC components (blood pressure taken, urine sample taken, blood sample taken, provided or bought iron tablet, counselling by a health worker on nutrition, and told about pregnancy complications) was used to construct a composite score of routine ANC components. The main predictor was a combination of the timing of the first contact and the number of ANC contacts before birth. We found that 28.7% of women who began ANC early made at least four ANC contacts. More than one-third (36%) received all six components, with blood pressure monitoring being the most common (90.4%). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, women who had at least four contacts and booked early were substantially more likely than their counterparts to get a factor-of-one increase in the number of components received (IRR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.10). We found a strong association between increased prenatal care content and early ANC with at least four contacts. However, less than a third of women in the study setting had at least four contacts, with the first occurring in the first trimester. In addition, less than half of women received essential prenatal care interventions before delivery. The findings suggest that the WHO's new guidelines for ANC frequency and timing may be challenging to implement in some countries, such as Ethiopia, that already have low coverage of four or more contacts. If the recommendations are adopted, effective strategies for increasing early starts and increasing contacts are required.

Evaluation of Short-Term Outcomes of Preterm Infants in 2 Periods: Vermont Oxford Network Results of a Developing Country's Single- Center Level IIIC Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Experience.

This study aimed to compare the short-term outcomes of infants from our level IIIC neonatal intensive care unit in 2 different periods. In this cohort study, data from preterm infants (≤29 weeks and birth weight <1500 g) registered in the Vermont Oxford Network system were divided into 2 periods, the first period between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2009, and the second between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019. There was no difference in the distribution of preterm infants according to their gestational age subgroups (P = .169). Although the survival rate increased significantly in the second period (48.1% vs. 64.3% (P < .001), there was no difference in terms of survival without morbidity (P = .480). The frequency of antenatal care (P < .001), antenatal maternal steroid use (P < .001), cesarean section (P = .025), and small for gestational age (P < .003) increased in the second period. Surfactant treatment in the delivery room (P < .003), neonatal intensive care unit (P < .001), and nasal continuous positive airway pressure use before intubation as a part of initial resuscitation (P < .001), nosocomial infections (P = .001), patent ductus arteriosus requiring medical treatment (P = .011), and necrotizing enterocolitis (P = .014) were significantly more common, but early neonatal sepsis (P = .002) and discharge home with only formula (P = .010) were less in the second period. Differences were noted in the prognosis and treatment choices of preterm infants in the same unit between 2 periods. The analysis of neonatal intensive care unit data, through rigorous methods, may provide opportunities for the development of quality improvement projects to improve the quality of health care in developing countries.

How effective is antenatal care in preparing mothers for newborn care? An exploratory survey of lactating women in a rural Nigerian district

BackgroundNeonatal death rates are high in sub-Saharan Africa and the majority of these deaths are preventable. Antenatal care (ANC) is a good channel for the reduction of neonatal deaths. This study aimed to assess newborn care practices among lactating women in Nigeria and determine their relationship with ANC attendance. MethodologyThis was a cross-sectional survey involving 241 lactating mothers selected using the cluster sampling method. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was employed to obtain data. The Chi-square test was used to assess the associations between categorical variables. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of umbilical cord care, thermal care, and neonatal vaccination status. Good cord care was defined as having minimum of three appropriate practices concerning the use of clean instruments to tie the cord, use of clean instruments to cut the cord, and application of chlorhexidine, 70% alcohol, saltwater, or nothing on the cord), Results were presented as odds ratios (ORs). P < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. ResultsThe mean age of participants was 29.0 ± 5.5 years. Most participants reported that sterile instruments were used to cut their baby's umbilical cords; that their babies were dried immediately after placenta delivery and that their babies were fully vaccinated (91.0%, 90.5%, and 85.1% respectively). ANC visits (aOR = 8.0, p = 0.02) and place of delivery (aOR = 10.6, p = 0.01) were significantly associated with good umbilical cord care practices. However, none of the participants' sociodemographic characteristics were significantly associated with newborn thermal care and vaccination status. ConclusionThe prevailing antenatal care services are ineffective in preparing mothers for newborn care. Place and frequency of ANC have positive associations with umbilical cord care. There is a need to implement quality ANC that will enhance maternal and neonatal outcomes and implement innovative interventions to enhance ANC attendance. The WHO positive pregnancy experience model should be implemented.

The Effect of Covid-19 Prevention Education on Public Mothers in Reducing Anxiety Level in The Time Covid-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many restrictions on almost all routine services, both in terms of access and quality, including restrictions on maternal and neonatal health services, such as a reduction in the frequency of antenatal care and postponement of classes for pregnant women and the postpartum period, these conditions can cause problems globally. psychological problems for pregnant women postpartum, which can cause anxiety, if the mother's own anxiety is left untreated it will have an impact on mothers who will experience postpartum blues. Objective: To review COVID-19 prevention education for postpartum mothers in reducing anxiety levels. Methods: The method used is a scoping review using keywords, namely Population Exposure Outcame (Peos), namely population: post partum, education, and anxiety by (following the PRISMA Flow Chart guidelines, Result: By providing education on COVID-19 prevention in reducing levels postpartum mothers anxiety following anxiety skinning using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) and COVID-19 prevention education using video, able to stimulate the senses of hearing as well as vision so that mothers can understand them well with changes in knowledge, attitudes and skills of mothers before and after after being given education regarding prevention of COVID-19, Conclusion: factors that influence anxiety in postpartum mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic are stressors, maturity, age, education, environment, by conducting anxiety screening and providing education to postpartum mothers, it is hoped that it can reduce anxiety san as well as increasing knowledge related to postpartum mothers regarding the prevention of COVID-19 during the pandemic so that it does not cause anxiety.

Immediate postpartum anemia and associated factors among women admitted to maternity ward at public hospitals in Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia: A facility-based cross-sectional study.

BackgroundAnemia in the postpartum period remains a considerable public health problem in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. It is the most common indirect cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. It is also a major health problem in women of reproductive age, affecting their quality of life, occupational capacity, lactation, and immunological function. Immediate postpartum anemia has a significant impact on women's quality of life, although its predictors have received little attention in Ethiopia, notably in Harari Regional State. Therefore, this study aimed to determine its magnitude and contributing factors in Eastern Ethiopia.MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June 1st to August 30th, 2021, among 484 postpartum women admitted to two public hospitals in Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia. Data were collected using a pre-tested, structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. About 2 mL of blood samples were collected and analyzed using the cell-Dyne 1,800 machine. The collected data were entered into Epi-Data version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 25. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate the effect of independent variables on immediate postpartum anemia. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was computed to report the presence of the association. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value of < 0.05.ResultsThe overall magnitude of immediate postpartum anemia was 28.1% [95% CI (23.7, 32.1)]. Lack of formal education [AOR: 3.92; 95% CI: (1.85, 8.33)], having antenatal care < 4 visits [AOR: 3.18; 95% CI: (1.53, 6.61)], a history of cesarean delivery [AOR: 3.40; 95% CI: (1.89, 6.10)], a history of maternal blood loss [AOR: 4.78; 95% CI: (2.22, 10.30)], pre-delivery Hgb level < 11 g/dl [AOR:5.46; 95% CI: (3.09,9.67)], and having no iron-folate supplementation [AOR:3.27; 95% CI: (1.31, 8.15)] were factors statistically associated with immediate postpartum anemia.ConclusionsIn this study, nearly one-third of mothers admitted for postpartum care developed anemia within 48 h of giving birth. Women's educational level, frequency of antenatal care, mode of delivery, a history of maternal blood loss, pre-delivery hemoglobin level, and iron-folate supplementation status were identified as immediate postpartum anemia risk factors. Therefore, promoting the benefits of adequate antenatal care and iron-folate supplementation during pregnancy is crucial to avoiding the risks of postpartum anemia.

ANTENATAL CARE AND MATERNAL OUTCOME OF PREECLAMPSIA

Background: In Indonesia, preeclampsia is the second most common cause of maternal death. One of the government's steps to reduce it by antenatal care policy. This study aimed to analyze whether the frequency of antenatal care and antenatal health care facilities are assosiated with maternal mortality and morbidity of preeclampsia patients treated at a tertiary hospital in Surakarta. Methods: Analytic observational study with a cross-sectional design using secondary data. The sample was preeclampsia patients at RSUD Dr.Moewardi Surakarta from January to December 2019 who were taken by total sampling. Independent variables are frequency of antenatal care and antenatal health care facilities, dependent variables are maternal mortality and morbidity. Data analysis using Chi-Square Test. Results: From 182 samples, antenatal care frequency average was 7,5 times (range: 0-16 times), the most antenatal healthcare facilities were advanced health facilities (85,5%), maternal mortality was 1,6%, and morbidity was 71,4%. Frequency of ANC was not associated with maternal mortality (p=1,000), frequency of ANC was not associated with morbidity of preeclampsia (p=1,000), antenatal healthcare facilities were not associated with maternal mortality (p=1,000), antenatal healthcare facilities were not associated with morbidity of preeclampsia (p=0,223). Conclusion: The frequency of antenatal care and antenatal healthcare facilities were not associated with maternal mortality and morbidity due to preeclampsia. &#x0D; Keywords: antenatal care, maternal outcome, preeclampsia

Male partners' role in maternal health service utilization: a secondary analysis using 2015-16 National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data

ObjectiveWhile prior research has documented several socio-demographic and policy level determinants of maternal health service utilization, the influence of partners and family on women's decisions to use maternal health services has received limited attention. This study focuses on the role of male partners in antenatal care, and examines the association between male partner attendance at antenatal care and maternal health service utilization. DesignCross-sectional observational study. SettingIndia. ParticipantsThis study utilized data from the 2015-16 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4). Of all the ever-married women who had at least one live birth in the past five years, a total number of 144,840 respondents were included for the analysis on antenatal care utilization and 146,378 respondents were included for the analysis on institutional delivery. MeasurementsThe key dependent variables used for the study were timing and frequency of antenatal care, and institutional delivery; while the primary independent variable for the study was male partner attendance in antenatal care. Weighted descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to examine the association between male partner attendance in antenatal care and maternal health service utilization, controlling for participants’ sociodemographic characteristics. ResultsControlling for all socio-demographic variables, the results showed that women who were accompanied by a male partner during antenatal care contacts were 18% more likely to report initiating antenatal care in the first trimester (OR= 1.18, 95% CI [1.13- 1.23]), 72% more likely to report having 4 or more antenatal care contacts (OR= 1.72, 95% CI [1.64 - 1.80]), 45% more likely to report having 8 or more antenatal care contacts during their pregnancy (OR= 1.45, CI [1.35 - 1.55]) and 40% more likely to have an institutional delivery (OR= 1.40, 95% CI [1.34 – 1.48). Key conclusionsFew studies have examined the role of partners and family in influencing women's maternal health service utilization. The results of this study add to the growing knowledge base in the area of male partner involvement in maternal care by demonstrating that male partner attendance in antenatal care is positively associated with maternal health service utilization. Implications for practiceThese results provide support for interventions that aim at a gender transformative approach to maternal health. Engaging with male partners and educating them in antenatal care could lead to improved knowledge levels among the couple, and increased support and access to maternal health services.

Home birth prevalence and associated factors in southwest Ethiopia

Background/Aim In Ethiopia, antenatal care takes a focused approach, where women are encouraged to give birth in a health facility, as there are no services that provide skilled birth attendants for home births. However, nearly half of mothers booked for antenatal care give birth at home, which is associated with a higher risk of maternal mortality and poor outcomes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of home birth and associated factors among women in southwest Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted using simple random sampling. Data were collected from 1 February 2018 to 30 April 2018 from 1831 women who had given birth in the last year in selected zones of southwest Ethiopia, using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data were cleaned and exported to STATA 14 for analysis, both by bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. P≤ 0.05 at 95% confidence interval of odds ratio was taken as significant in the multivariable model. Results Approximately half (54.5%) of the participants gave birth at home. Rural residence (adjusted odds ratio=0.46, P=0.032), listening to the radio (adjusted odds ratio=0.53, P=0.047), attending 3–5 antenatal care visits (adjusted odds ratio=0.40, P=0.031), being widowed or divorced (adjusted odds ratio=2.89, P=0.045), prolonged labour (adjusted odds ratio=0.76, P=0.021) and waiting time for antenatal care services (adjusted odds ratio=1.85, P=0.042) were significantly associated with home birth. Conclusions More than half of the participants gave birth to their last child at home, and this decision was affected by residence, prolonged labour, antenatal care frequency, media, marital status, and waiting time for antenatal care services. Interventions to increase institutional birth should prioritise those who do not attend antenatal care, are not exposed to media or who are widowed or divorced. Similarly, reducing antenatal care waiting time and encouraging mothers to attend antenatal care are vital to improving rates of institutional birth in Ethiopia.