ABSTRACT
Antenatal care (ANC) refers to the care of pregnant women using
evidence-based interventions that are considered beneficial. The objective of
this study was to assess the awareness and use of antenatal care services among
pregnant women in Esan West Local Government Area. This was a descriptive study
among all pregnant women who visit the health centers on their antenatal clinic
days. A sample of 100 women were selected using convenience sampling technique.
The instrument of data collection was a self-developed questionnaire. Data was
analysed using simple frequency tables and percentages. The results of the
study revealed that 98% of the respondents understand how important attending
antenatal care is while about 1% does not really know and 1% does not even
know. 48% of the respondents believes that the best time to register for
antenatal care is 0-3 months, about 46% opines that 4-6 months of gestation is
best to register for antenatal care. 3% says its better to register from 7-9
months 2% of the respondent population feels anytime will do while 1% does not
see the need to register. 85% of the respondents attends antenatal care regularly
while about 15% do not. 61% of the respondents identified cost/finance as the
major barrier which hinders their attending of ANC. 16% says that antenatal
care is not convenient for them, 10% of the respondents says that their culture
hinders them from seeking ANC. The finding of the study shows that majority of
the Pregnant women have good knowledge/ awareness about Antenatal Care. It is
recommended that since the utilization of health care services depend largely
on the nearness of the facility, government should establish maternal centers
per ward for easy access and utilization of health care centers.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background
to the study
Globally,
the number of women dying due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth
decreased by nearly 50% from 1990 to 2013 but the number of deaths remains
unacceptably high especially in low-income countries where 99% of these deaths
occur (Bustreo, Say, Koblinsky, Pullum, Temmerman, Pablos-Méndez; WHO, 2014). The
SDG goals include reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity
worldwide (Bhuttaet al., 2015). The
strategies used to achieve these goals include family planning, skilled
attendance during pregnancy (Antenatal Awareness) and safe delivery, and access
to emergency obstetric care (UNFPA, 2010). Antenatal care (ANC) refers to the
care of pregnant women using evidence-based interventions that are considered
beneficial. WHO consider it essential that all women are offered tetanus toxoid
immunization, screening and treatment of anemia and syphilis, and are examined
for pregnancy related complications such as hypertensive disorders and
mal-presentations. HIV screening is recommended in as a situational
intervention, i.e. in endemic areas by (WHO, 2009). Client provider-interaction
remains the core of clinical practice and a medium to enhance antenatal
awareness and the care offered should be acceptable for both the health care
professional and the client (Langer et al.,
2002; Wilkinson & Callister, 2009). Clients’ health care seeking behavior
worldwide has been assumed to be the result of clients’ individual
characteristics, patients’ identified needs, health status, patients’
satisfaction, the structure of the health care system, and the external
environment such as the infrastructure (Trinh et al., 2007; Bruce, 2007). Strengthening the competence of
midlevel providers and improving communicative skills can improve the quality
of maternal health care and the response of expecting mothers towards antenatal
(Jibril, 2017).
The
world today is currently undergoing changes towards a more market-oriented
provision of health care. In most countries of the world today antenatal care
(ANC) is free and mainly provided at thecommunity health stations (CHS). The
World Health Organization’s recommends three ANC visits during pregnancy (Trinh
et al., 2007). According to WHO
statistics (2009) About 88% percent of women are assisted by a skilled
attendant at birth.
Most
countries of the world enjoy low maternal mortality ratio and neonatal
mortality rate (WHO, 2009). The maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria is
estimated to 630 per 100 000 live births; the infant mortality is estimated to
be 75 per 1000 live births (WHO, 2014). Two-thirds of infants’ deaths are
estimated to be attributed to the neonatal Period, indicating suboptimal care
at birth and the first Week of life.
Antenatal
care refers to pregnancy-related care. Services usually include screening and
treatment for medical conditions, and identification of and interventions for
behavioral risk factors associated with poor birth outcomes, such as smoking or
poor nutrition (Adhikari, Sahu, Nair, Saha, Sharma, & Pandey, 2016).
Beginning prenatal care within the first trimester and receiving the
recommended number of prenatal care visits is essential to reducing the
likelihood of maternal complications and premature deliveries.
Complications
and premature births can result in long-term health problems for the child.
While most prevention efforts are focused on the pregnancy, post-delivery is
also a very critical time for the health of the mother and the newborn baby
(Abbas, Rabbea, Abdel Hafiz, & Ahmed, 2017). Problems or conditions may
arise, that if not treated promptly, can lead to complications (Abbas, Rabbea,
Abdel Hafiz, & Ahmed, 2017).
Antenatal
care utilization is associated with a number of socio-demographic and economic
factors such as age of the woman, education, work status, parity, media
exposure, household income, awareness and knowledge regarding antenatal care
services, cultural beliefs, woman's autonomy, availability and access to health
care, prior experience of delivery complications and motivation by either
health care provider or family nutrition (Adhikari, Sahu, Nair, Saha, Sharma,
& Pandey, 2016; Shah & Belanger, 2011).
Therefore,
this study targeted pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Ekpoma, Esan
West Local Government Area, to assess the awareness and use of antenatal care
services.
1.2
Statement
of problem
Antenatal, as the name implies Ante-
means "prior to" and -natal related to "delivery" so
therefore antenatal is the care given to a pregnant woman prior to delivery
during the period of pregnancy. Conversely, antenatal neglect among pregnant
women is alarming (Adhikari, Sahu, Nair, Saha, Sharma, & Pandey, z2016).
Studies
revealed that a greater proportion of maternal death in Nigeria was due to
complications at pregnancy. Such complications include bacterial infection,
anaemia, haemorrhage; pregnancy induced hypertension and its consequences
(severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia), induced abortion, still birth and
obstructed labour (Aboyejiet al.,
2007; Royston & Armstrong, 1989). However, such complications that led to
maternal mortality occur mostly among women that did not receive antenatal care
at pregnancy (Dairo&Owoyokun, 2010). Thus, poor use of antenatal care among
Nigerian women has been a great concern to public health because of its life
threatening and other negative consequences to the health of mothers and the
child (WHO 2007; Aboyejiet al.,
2007). The
antenatal awareness of pregnant women during pregnancy has a great influence on
life expectancy ratio such as. Maternal mortality ratio, Neonatal mortality
rate among others.
In
addition, a few studies done on antenatal care in Nigeria have helped to
identify that there is a need for antenatal care but the awareness of pregnant
women towards antenatal have not been revealed in most studies. However,
this study seeks to assess the antenatal Awareness of pregnant women in Esan West
Local Government and likely measures to improve them.
1.3
Objectives
of the study
1) To
assess the awareness of pregnant women in Esan West Local Government Area on
antenatal care.
2) To
assess the level of utilization of antenatal care services among pregnant women
in Esan West Local Government Area.
3) To
identify the determinants of the use of antenatal care among pregnant women in
Esan West Local Government Area towards antenatal care.
1.4
Research
questions
1) What
is the level of awareness of pregnant women in Esan West Local Government on
antenatal care?
2) What
is the level of utilization of antenatal care services among pregnant women in
Esan West Local Government Area?
3) What
are the determinants of the use of antenatal care among pregnant women in Esan
West Local Government Area towards antenatal care?
1.5
Significance
of the study
This
study will help to create awareness about the importance of antenatal care,
identify facilitators/barriers involved in getting antenatal care and also to
suggest possible ways to improve antenatal awareness.
Thefindingsofthisstudywillbeusefultomaternalhealthcareproviderswhoarekey
stakeholders in the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in
relation to the antenatal care of Nigerian pregnant women.
The
MinistryofHealth and otherhealthinstitutions can alsousethisstudyto clearly
understandthe antenatal needs of Nigerian women.
Tothe
academia this will add to existing literatures on the awareness and use of
antenatal care in the study area.
1.6
Scope
of the study
This
study only involves pregnant women irrespective of their marital status in selected
health centers in Esan West Local Government area of Edo state.
================================================================
Item Type: Project Material | Attribute: 59 pages | Chapters: 1-5
Format: MS Word | Price: N3,000 | Delivery: Within 30Mins.
================================================================
No comments:
Post a Comment