title: The antenatal care debate.
abstract: The antenatal care debate has focused on the frequency of antenatal care, its content, continuity, quality, organization, effectiveness and impact on morbidity and mortality. Established antenatal care schedules have been called into question. Randomized controlled trials comparing reduced schedules with routine antenatal care have shown similar or better outcomes for the reduced protocols. Furthermore, midwives, with or without physicians, can provide continuous maternity care comparable to obstetrician-led care. Some women disliked the new protocol, but a reduced protocol of high quality provided by competent midwives is cost-effective, spares scarce physicians and ensures women's satisfaction. It is recommended globally.
authors.affiliation: Directorate of Health Centres, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Baldo
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008877:Middle East; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000458:organization & administration; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000458:organization & administration; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors