S Sanjel1, R H Ghimire, K Pun. 1. Department of Community Medicine, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel Hospital, Dhulikhel, Nepal. sanjel.sn@gmail.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Antenatal care is provided during pregnancy to save lives of mother and foetus. World Health Organization recommends four focused visits as sufficient for normal pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to find out antenatal care practices in Tamang community of hilly areas of central Nepal. METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Tamang community of Lalitpur district. Systematic random sampling method was used to collect data from April to May 2011. Data of 194 women having ≥ 3 years of children was collected and analyzed in descriptive and inferential ways. RESULTS: Antenatal visits were made by 78.9% (153) of women but only 46.4% (71) completed four antenatal visits. Mean visit was of 3.5 +/- 1.13 times. Ninety four (61.4%) of first antenatal visits attainders completed the fourth visit. Age of women and antenatal visits, taking tetanus toxoid injection and knowledge on work of iron tablets exhibited significant association at 95% level of confidence (p less than 0.05). There was also significant association between numbers of childbirth and antenatal visits at 95% level of confidence (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There was a high rate of early marriage and early pregnancy in the Tamang communities. Women did not place high importance on antenatal visits. A large percentage did not complete all four recommended antenatal visits. Use of necessary medicine like iron, albendazole tablets and tetanus toxoid injection was often incomplete.
BACKGROUND: Antenatal care is provided during pregnancy to save lives of mother and foetus. World Health Organization recommends four focused visits as sufficient for normal pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to find out antenatal care practices in Tamang community of hilly areas of central Nepal. METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Tamang community of Lalitpur district. Systematic random sampling method was used to collect data from April to May 2011. Data of 194 women having ≥ 3 years of children was collected and analyzed in descriptive and inferential ways. RESULTS: Antenatal visits were made by 78.9% (153) of women but only 46.4% (71) completed four antenatal visits. Mean visit was of 3.5 +/- 1.13 times. Ninety four (61.4%) of first antenatal visits attainders completed the fourth visit. Age of women and antenatal visits, taking tetanus toxoid injection and knowledge on work of iron tablets exhibited significant association at 95% level of confidence (p less than 0.05). There was also significant association between numbers of childbirth and antenatal visits at 95% level of confidence (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There was a high rate of early marriage and early pregnancy in the Tamang communities. Women did not place high importance on antenatal visits. A large percentage did not complete all four recommended antenatal visits. Use of necessary medicine like iron, albendazole tablets and tetanus toxoid injection was often incomplete.
Authors: Michael Ediau; Rhoda K Wanyenze; Simba Machingaidze; George Otim; Alex Olwedo; Robert Iriso; Nazarius M Tumwesigye Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2013-10-18 Impact factor: 3.007