Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

Knowledge and Practices of Pregnant Women Towards Focused Antenatal Care in Dowa District, Malawi

Davison Bester Machika, Abigail Kazembe

Abstract


Introduction: Despite evidence supporting use of focused antenatal care (FANC) to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in developing countries, most women underutilize the service. Aim: To assess pregnant women’s knowledge and practices about FANC in one district hospital in Malawi. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional descriptive design, with a random sample of 386 pregnant women. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data about women’s knowledge and practices regarding FANC. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. Results: Majority of women knew when to start antenatal care and the benefits of FANC, 72% (n = 272) and 67% (n = 259), respectively. Only 11.8% (n = 46) knew about the number of visits to make. Regarding practice, only 28.8% (n = 111) started antenatal care on time. Conclusion: There was a discrepancy between knowledge and practice, therefore a qualitative study is recommended.


Full Text:

PDF

References


Ajayi IO, Osakinle DC, Osakinle EO. Quality assessment of the practice of focused antenatal care (FANC) in rural and urban primary health centres in Ekiti state. Open J Obstet Gynecol. 2013; 3 (3): 319.

Amnesty International. Barriers to Antenatal Care in South Africa. London, UK: Amnesty International Ltd; 2014.

Mugo NS, Dibley, MJ, Agho KE. Prevalence and risk factors for non-use of antenatal care visits: analysis of the 2010 South Sudan household survey. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2015; 15 (1): 68. Doi: 10:1186/s12884-015-0491-6.

Banda CL. Barriers to Utilization of Focused Antenatal Care among Pregnant Women in Ntchisi District, Malawi. Unpublished Master’s Dissertation. Tampere, Finland: University of Tampere; 2013.

Amosu AM, Degun AM, Thomas AM, Olanrewaju MF, Babalola AO, Omeonu PE. A study on the acceptance and practice of focused antenatal care by health care providers in South West Zone of Nigeria. Arch Appl Sci Res. 2011; 3 (1): 484–491.

WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA. Trends in Maternal Mortality, 1990-2010. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2012.

Geubbels E. Epidemiology of maternal mortality in Malawi. Malawi Med J. 2006; 18 (4): 206–225.

Logan C, Moore, K, Manlove J, Mincieli L, Cottingham S. Conceptualizing “A Strong Start”. Antecedents of Positive Child Outcomes at Birth and Into Early Childhood. Washington, DC, USA: Child Trends Research; 2007.

Chaibva CN, Roos JH, Ehlers VJ. (2009). Adolescent mothers non-utilisation of antenatal care services in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Curationis. 2009; 32 (3): 14–21.

National Statistical Office. Malawi Millennium Development Goals End Line Survey 2014. Zomba, Malawi: National Statistical Office; 2015.

Graham AJ, Bond C. The role of clinical nurse specialist, lecturer practitioner and practice. educator of clinical staff. In: Callara LE, editor. Nursing Education Challenges in the 21st Century. New York, NY, USA: Nova Publishers; 2008. pp. 49–113.

Abou-Zahr CL, Wardlaw TM. Antenatal Care in Developing Countries: Promise, Achievements and Missed Opportunities: An Analysis of Trends, Levels and Differentials, 1990-2001. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organisation; 2003.

Calson M, Paintain LS, Bruce J, Webster J, Lines J. Who attends antenatal care and expanded programme on immunization services in Chad, Mali and Niger? The implications of insecticide treated net delivery. Malaria J. 2011; 10: Article 341.

Chiwaula H. Factors associated with late initiation of antenatal care among women in Lilongwe. [Online]. Available at https://www.medcol.mw/mph/index?page=pages&pid=39

Trinh TL, Rubin G. Late entry to antenatal care in New South Wales, Australia. Reprod Health. 2006; 3: Article 8.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.37628/jopnn.v9i2.2356

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.