title: Family structure and use of prenatal care.
abstract: This cross-sectional study intended to assess the use of prenatal care according to the family structure in a population with free universal access to prenatal care. In 2005-2006, the Portuguese birth cohort was assembled by the recruitment of puerperae at public maternity wards in Porto, Portugal. In the current analysis, 7,211 were included. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history, and prenatal care were self-reported. Single mothers were considered as those whose household composition did not include a partner at delivery. Approximately 6% of the puerperae were single mothers. These women were more likely to have an unplanned pregnancy (OR = 6.30; 95%CI: 4.94-8.04), an inadequate prenatal care (OR = 2.30; 95%CI: 1.32-4.02), and to miss the ultrasound and the intake of folic acid supplements during the first trimester of pregnancy (OR = 1.71; 95%CI: 1.30-2.27; and OR = 1.67; 95%CI: 1.32-2.13, respectively). The adequacy and use of prenatal care was less frequent in single mothers. Educational interventions should reinforce the use and early initiation of prenatal care.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Elisabete
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Centro de Saúde Carvalhosa, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Henrique
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011174:Portugal; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012847:Single Person / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020954:Single-Parent Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors