Assessment of the antenatal care services, Aden

Abstract EN

Provision of antenatal care is regarded as a cornerstone of maternal health care and is expected to improve the health of mothers.

Aim: To assess the quality of antenatal care (ANC) services being provided at the maternal and child healthcare (MCH) centers in Aden with a view to improve ANC services.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2010 in 7 MCH centers providing antenatal health care in Aden governorate.

Results: Adolescents’ pregnancy (age ≤ 19 years) comprised (9.4%).

The majority (62.7%) was between the ages of 20 and 29 years.

1.6% of the women were illiterate and 81.2% were housewives.

Two-thirds 66.9% were multiparity and nearly two-thirds (63.9%) were in the last trimester of pregnancy.

Most women (56.2%) used the antenatal care 1 – 3 visits.

(30.8%) reported that waiting time was long and (63%) received antenatal care from midwives.

(56.5%) of the study women answered “good” to the relationship with the medical staff (understanding, courteous, informative, and respectful for privacy), and (35.4%) answered “excellent”.

One third (31.2%) did not received tetanus immunization, and about (91.9%) got their blood pressure checked.

Routine weight measurements were noted for (91.6%).

Urine test for protein and glucose were carried out among (79.2%).

Haemoglobin estimations were checked and recorded for (92.9%).

Blood group, Rh-factor, and blood sugar test were checked for (85.1%), (85.1%) and (62.7%), respectively.

Conclusions: We conclude that antenatal care and visits in Aden governorate should be improved and used more effectively.