Antenatal care visits' absenteeism at a secondary care medical facility in Southwest Nigeria.
Antenatal care (ANC) is a specialised pattern of care organised for pregnant women with the goal of maintaining good health and promoting safe delivery of healthy infants. It is an indispensable part of effective maternity care services. This study identified the factors responsible for absenteeism from ANC follow-up visits. It was a hospital-based prospective cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at a faith based secondary healthcare facility in Ibadan, Nigeria. Relevant data were retrieved using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires and antenatal health record cards. The major reasons identified for absenteeism were delay in receiving hospital services due to long queues at service points and understaffing. The pregnant women aged 35 years and above were the most likely to miss the visits. Therefore, there is the need for hospital administrators and health care givers to make the services patient-friendly.
a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Our Lady of Apostle Catholic Hospital, Oluyoro Oke-Offa , Ibadan , Nigeria.
Olakunle
O
Oloko
b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , University College Hospital , Ibadan , Nigeria.
Olayinka Oladunjoye
OO
Ogunbode
c Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine , University of Ibadan , Ibadan , Nigeria.
Olumuyiwa
O
Roberts
b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , University College Hospital , Ibadan , Nigeria.
Ayodele Olatunji
AO
Arowojolu
D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D063728:Secondary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Absenteeism; Nigeria; antenatal care; follow-up; pregnancy