Massey Documents by Type

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/294

Browse

Has files: YesSubject: search.filters.subject.Antenatal care

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Predictors for achieving adequate antenatal care visits during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study in rural Northwest Rwanda
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2023-01-26) Dusingizimana T; Ramilan T; Weber JL; Iversen PO; Mugabowindekwe M; Ahishakiye J; Brough L
    BACKGROUND: Inadequate antenatal care (ANC) in low-income countries has been identified as a risk factor for poor pregnancy outcome. While many countries, including Rwanda, have near universal ANC coverage, a significant proportion of pregnant women do not achieve the recommended regimen of four ANC visits. The present study aimed to explore the factors associated with achieving the recommendation, with an emphasis on the distance from household to health facilities. METHODS: A geo-referenced cross-sectional study was conducted in Rutsiro district, Western province of Rwanda with 360 randomly selected women. Multiple logistic regression analysis including adjusted odd ratio (aOR) were performed to identify factors associated with achieving the recommended four ANC visits. RESULTS: The majority (65.3%) of women had less than four ANC visits during pregnancy. We found a significant and negative association between distance from household to health facility and achieving the recommended four ANC visits. As the distance increased by 1 km, the odds of achieving the four ANC visits decreased by 19% (aOR = 0.81, P = 0.024). The odds of achieving the recommended four ANC visits were nearly two times higher among mothers with secondary education compared with mothers with primary education or less (aOR = 1.90, P = 0.038). In addition, mothers who responded that their household members always seek health care when necessary had 1.7 times higher odds of achieving four ANC visits compared with those who responded as unable to seek health care (aOR = 1.7, P = 0.041). Furthermore, mothers from poor households had 2.1 times lower odds of achieving four ANC visits than mothers from slightly better-off households (aOR = 2.1, P = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the present study suggest that, in Rutsiro district, travel distance to health facility, coupled with socio-economic constraints, including low education and poverty can make it difficult for pregnant women to achieve the recommended ANC regimen. Innovative strategies are needed to decrease distance by bringing ANC services closer to pregnant women and to enhance ANC seeking behaviour. Interventions should also focus on supporting women to attain at least secondary education level as well as to improve the household socioeconomic status of pregnant women, with a particular focus on women from poor households.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    First antenatal visit : meeting now for the future : a grounded theory study of the meeting between the independent midwife and the pregnant woman : a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Midwifery
    (Massey University, 1999) Sylvester, Mary R
    This is a study of what happens between independent midwives and women at the first antenatal visit. Six experienced midwives and six pregnant women participated in the research. Data were gathered through the observation of six first antenatal visits, individual interviews with the women and midwives and a review of the literature. Grounded theory was used to conduct the study, and a descriptive model of the first antenatal visit emerged. Up until the change to the Nurses Act in 1990 midwives predominately practiced within the hospital system. Since 1990 and the legalising of independent midwifery practice in New Zealand, midwives have taken up the challenge to practice independently. A few guidelines have been set to assist independent midwives in practice; some of the guidelines being used have been taken from the hospital system into independent practice. The first antenatal visit is the beginning point of the relationship between the pregnant woman and the midwife. It is a key element for determining the quality and effectiveness of a mother's subsequent maternity care (Methven, 1990). The midwife and the woman each have an important part to play in the first antenatal visit which sets the stage for future care. The data from the study revealed a number of paradoxes that exist when independent midwives deliver midwifery-only care. The basic social process to emerge from the study was "meeting now for the future" but the study identified that the midwife and the woman are meeting for different reasons.