Regular ANC Research Articles

Knowledge and practices regarding antenatal care among mothers of infants in an urban area of Amritsar, Punjab

Background: Worldwide, approximately 830 women died every single day due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth in 2015. Most maternal deaths are preventable as the necessary medical interventions are well known. So the present study was conducted to find the knowledge and practices regarding antenatal care among the mothers of infants.Methods: The mothers having less than one year child according to the annual report of year 2017 were included in the study. A pre-designed questionnaire, which was pre tested was used to collect the information. Out of 332 mothers 327 were willing to participate in the study. House to house survey was done to collect the information. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS 20.0.Results: Regarding the knowledge about the antenatal care 22.0% mothers had poor knowledge while 45.6% and 32.4% had average and good knowledge respectively. Age and education status of the mother had significant relation with the knowledge regarding ANC (p=0.00). 96% of mothers started ANC in first trimester. 79.5% of mothers had regular ANC visits during pregnancy. Regarding post natal visits 86.5% of the mothers visited for the same.Conclusions: Considerable gaps were found in the knowledge and practices regarding ANC. Health care workers play an important role in motivating the woman and her family to utilize the ANC services. The health workers should be trained adequately about the available ANC services. Community IEC activities should be increased to create awareness about the ANC services which are available free of cost in our country.

High preterm birth at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital as a national referral hospital in Indonesia

Background: Preterm birth is the leading direct that causes neonatal death. Indonesia was listed as one of the countries with the greatest number of preterm birth in 2010. This study aims to identify the prevalence and the potential risk factors of preterm birth among women underwent delivery in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, an Indonesian national reference hospital.Methods: This retrospective cohort study involved 2,612 women who delivered between January and December 2013. Any clinical data which related to the potential risk factors and outcomes were recorded. The data were managed using chi-square for bivariate analysis and t-test or Mann-Whitney for numerical data followed by multiple logistic regression for multivariate analysis in SPSS version 20.0.Results: Preterm birth affected 1,020 of 2,616 pregnancies (38.5%). Non-booked patients increased nearly twice risk for preterm delivery (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.37–2.61). While women with singleton pregnancy (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.12–0.25), head presentation (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.63–0.89), and regular ANC (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.54–0.84) had lower risk for preterm birth. Apgar score, birthweight, and mode of delivery were significantly different between the pre-term group and the full-term group.Conclusion: Prevalence of preterm birth in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital was approximately 2.5 times higher compared to the national number. Several factors reducing preterm birth rate include singleton pregnancy, head presentation, and regular ANC.

Low Birth Weight Prevalence, Risk Factors, Outcomes in Primary Health Care Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) is defined by WHO as birth weight less than 2500 g. it is the single most important factor affecting neonatal mortality and morbidity. Furthermore, LBW babies are at an increased risk for serious health problems, ranging from neuro-developmental disabilities to respiratory disorders and cardiovascular disease at adulthood. Early comprehensive care for LBW infants in primary care setting is vital. Well-baby clinic offers a comprehensive and multidisciplinary care to children including LBW children. This study aimsto determine the prevalence, risk factors and outcome of LBW infants registered in well-baby clinic at primary health care setting. Methods: This is a Cross sectional retrospective epidemiological study has been conducted in accredited primary health care centers in Saudi Arabia. Target population is registered children in the Well-baby clinic of high risk category, born during 2014. Pre-term infants and infants with congenital anomalies were excluded. For data collection, a constructed data sheet for the variables included in the study adopted from the formal records of both: LBW infants and their mothers was used. Necessary permission to conduct the study obtained from research and ethical committee of the joint committee of family and community medicine. Confidentiality of information has been strictly adhered by assuring that no names or ID number will be recorded. Results: Babies with birth weight less than 2500 gram were taken as cases. A total number of 124 (4.39%) were included, 55 (44.4%) of them were male babies and 69 (55.6%) were female babies. The mean maternal age was 28.82 years. 10 (8.1%) of LBW babies were delivered to mothers suffering from chronic illness (mainly diabetes and hypertension). 5 (4%) of LBW babies were born to smoker mothers. 76 (61.3%) of the LBW were born to anemic mothers. 9 (7.3%) of babies were born to mothers never had regular ANC follow-up. 28 (22.6%) of LBW babies were admitted to the NICU and 111 (89.5%) cases were improved after one-year follow-up in well-baby clinic. Conclusion: The study findings suggest that four factors increase the incidence of LBW, namely smoking, anemia, mothers never had regular ANC and mother's chronic disease. It also leads to conclude that breast feeding and NICU admission are significant independent variables that have been assumed to affect the outcome of LBW during follow up at the well-baby clinic.

Antenatal care visit attendance, intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (IPTp) and malaria parasitaemia at delivery.

BackgroundThe determinants and barriers for delivery and uptake of IPTp vary with different regions in sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluated the determinants of ANC clinic attendance and IPTp-SP uptake among parturient women from Mount Cameroon Area and hypothesized that time of first ANC clinic attendance could influence uptake of IPTp-SP/dosage and consequently malaria parasite infection status at delivery.MethodsTwo cross sectional surveys were carried out at the Government Medical Centre in the Mutengene Health Area, Mt Cameroon Area from March to October 2007 and June 2008 to April 2009. Consented parturient women were consecutively enrolled in both surveys. In 2007, socio-demographic data, ANC clinic attendance, gestational age, fever history and reported use/dosage of IPTp-SP were documented using a structured questionnaire. In the second survey only IPT-SP usage/dosage was recorded. Malaria parasitaemia at delivery was determined by blood smear microscopy and placental histology.Results and discussionIn 2007, among the 287 women interviewed, 2.2%, 59.7%, and 38.1% enrolled in the first, second and third trimester respectively. About 90% of women received at least one dose SP but only 53% received the two doses in 2007 and by 2009 IPTp-two doses coverage increased to 64%. Early clinic attendance was associated (P = 0.016) with fever history while being unmarried (OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.3-3.8) was significantly associated with fewer clinic visits (<4visits). Women who received one SP dose (OR = 3.7; 95% CI: 2.0-6.8) were more likely not to have attended ≥ 4visits. A higher proportion (P < 0.001) of women with first visit during the third trimester received only one dose, meanwhile, those who had an early first ANC attendance were more likely (OR = 0.4; 95% CI = 0.2 - 0.7) to receive two or more doses. Microscopic parasitaemia at delivery was frequent (P = 0.007) among women who enrolled in the third trimester and had received only one SP dose than in those with two doses.ConclusionIn the study area, late first ANC clinic enrolment and fewer clinic visits may prevent the uptake of two SP doses and education on early and regular ANC clinic visits can increase IPTp coverage.

Influence of Maternal Factors on Mode of Delivery and Birth Weight in Urban Pregnant Women

Pregnancy is one of the most critical and unique period in a woman’s life cycle. The present longitudinal study was undertaken to assess the influence of certain factors on mode of delivery and birth weight in urban pregnant women visiting hospitals for regular ANC check-up. The sample size included 100 pregnant women. Information was collected on age, type of family, education, income, parity, medical history, obstetric history, meal pattern and morbidity status by personal interview method using questionnaire. Mode of delivery was noted using hospital records. Birth weight of neonates was taken within two days of birth. Majority of the subjects (82%) were using mixed type of diet. non vegetarians. Fever was the most common ailment reported. The influence of the factors like maternal age and parity on mode of delivery and also the influence of maternal age and birth weight were found to be non significant. Significant association was observed between maternal age and the body mass index (p > 0.05). The study revealed that the basic nutrition education is very essential for women in order to maintain a normal body mass index during the prime child bearing age.