title: Womens' opinions on antenatal care in developing countries: results of a study in Cuba, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Argentina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The results of a qualitative study carried out in four developing countries (Cuba, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Argentina) are presented. The study was conducted in the context of a randomised controlled trial to test the benefits of a new antenatal care protocol that reduced the number of visits to the doctor, rationalised the application of technology, and improved the provision of information to women in relation to the traditional protocol applied in each country.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through focus groups discussions we were able to assess the concepts and expectations underlying women's evaluation of concepts and experiences of the care received in antenatal care clinics. 164 women participated in 24 focus groups discussion in all countries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three areas are particularly addressed in this paper: a) concepts about pregnancy and health care, b) experience with health services and health providers, and c) opinions about the modified Antenatal Care (ANC) programme. In all three topics similarities were identified as well as particular opinions related to country specific social and cultural values. In general women have a positive view of the new ANC protocol, particularly regarding the information they receive. However, controversial issues emerged such as the reduction in the number of visits, particularly in Cuba where women are used to have 18 ANC visits in one pregnancy period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recommendations to improve ANC services performance are being proposed. Any country interested in the application of a new ANC protocol should regard the opinion and acceptability of women towards changes.
authors.affiliation: Fundación Mexicana para la Salud, Mexico City, Mexico. gnigenda@funsalud.org.mx
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nigenda
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Chusri
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kuchaisit
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Muneera
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Osimy
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Villar
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Yagob
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Al-Mazrou
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ba'aqeel
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carroli
authors.forename: Ubaldo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Farnot
authors.forename: Pisake
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lumbiganon
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Belizán
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bergsjo
authors.forename: Leiv
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bakketeig
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lindmark
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001118:Argentina; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003462:Cuba; D003469:Culture; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification; D009819:Office Visits; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012945:Social Values; D013785:Thailand; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*