Utilisation of antenatal services at the Provincial Hospital, Mongomo, Guinea Equatoria.

This prospective study was carried out to evaluate the utilisation of antenatal care at the Provincial Specialist Hospital, Mongomo, Guinea Equatoria, paying close attention to the confounding factors affecting effective antenatal care (ANC) delivery. Information was elicited from 200 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic using a questionnaire. Previous antenatal clinic attendance was high (92.5%). However, with increasing gestation, the percentage of those who never had antenatal care increased. Poor ANC attendance is associated with more abortions and poor obstetric performance. Higher levels of education generally improved ANC attendance, particularly early booking for ANC. Hospital workers, husbands and parents were the greatest influence on ANC attendance. Universal education of the women, improved health education, community involvement and integration of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) are significant suggestions made by the patients for improving the delivery of antenatal care.