Factors affecting the utilization of antenatal care among women of reproductive age in Nurpur Shahan.
Antenatal care is important for the prevention of maternal and foetal mortality and morbidity. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of utilization of antenatal care and to identify the factors that affect it. A cross sectional survey was conducted in the community of Nurpur Shahan, Islamabad, Pakistan in January 2010 using a structured questionnaire. Included were 390 women of reproductive age who were questioned about their knowledge of antenatal care and its utilization. The frequency of utilization of antenatal care was (84.4%). Among those who never used the antenatal care, permission to use the facility and ignorahce were the main reasons. Education of both the wife and husband with this regard must be worked upon.
Community Health Sciences, Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad.
Namrah
N
Sadiq
Quratulain
Q
Waheed
Mehreen
M
Hussain
Ali Tahir
AT
Rana
Zareen
Z
Yousaf
Zunash
Z
Chaudry
Saad
S
Salman
Saima
S
Iqbal
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult