[Prenatal care in a semiurban area of Central African Republic: frequency, influential factors, maternal and neonatal prognosis].
This 9-month longitudinal study was carried out in a cohort of 287 women hospitalized for various obstetrical reasons in Bouar, the third largest city in Central Africa. A total of 225 of these women gave birth to 229 children. The purpose of study was to evaluate attendance at prenatal examinations, risk factors for obstetrical morbidity, and maternal and neonatal prognosis. Results showed an overall absence rate at scheduled examinations of 38 p. 100. Only 8.4 p. 100 of women enrolled for prenatal care complied fully with the examination schedule. The factors associated poor attendance were age older than 19 years, distance greater than 5 kilometers between the woman's home and care facility, and illiteracy. The incidence of complicated pregnancy was significantly higher in refractory women. Reported complications included eclampsia, extrauterine pregnancy, and death of the mother. A total of 43.5 p. 100 of home deliveries involved women that did not attend prenatal care clinics. A total of 23.1 p. 100 of newborns without prenatal care presented complications requiring intensive neonatal care with an Apgar score below 7. Overall the perinatal death rate was 12.7 p. 100 (n = 29). The stillbirth rate was 10.1 p. 100 (n = 16). The findings of this study demonstrate the favorable impact of prenatal care on pregnancy outcome for both mother and child. Prenatal care should be made available to all pregnant women.
Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Hôpital Communautaire de Bangui, BP 3199 Bangui, République Centrafricaine. Sepou_Abdoulaye@yahoo.fr
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A
Sepou
M C
MC
Yanza
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Nguembi
J P
JP
Bangamingo
M N
MN
Nali
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002488:Central African Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population