Samuel Anya|Abba Hydara|Lamin Jaiteh
Antenatal care in The Gambia: Missed opportunity for information, education and communication
University of the Gambia|University of the Gambia|University of the Gambia
antenatal care widely established provides opportunity inform educate pregnant women pregnancy childbirth care newborn expected would assist women making choices would contribute good pregnancy outcome examined provision information education antenatal clinics perspective pregnant women attending clinics cross sectional survey 457 pregnant women attending six urban six rural antenatal clinics largest health division gambia undertaken women interviewed using modified antenatal client exit interview antenatal record review questionnaires safe motherhood needs assessment kit differences women attending urban rural clinics assessed using chisquare test relative risks 95 confidence intervals presented ninety percent interviewed attended antenatal clinic 52 four times pregnant women 705 said spent 3 minutes less antenatal care provider 35 recalled informed educated diet nutrition 304 care baby 236 family planning 228 place birth 193 complication 25 pregnant women said given information progress pregnancy consultation 128 asked provider question awareness danger signs low proportions women recognised signs danger 289 anaemia 246 hypertension 148 haemorrhage 129 fever 5 puerperal sepsis prolonged labour recognised danger sign women attending rural antenatal clinics 16 times likely recognise signs anaemia hypertension indicative danger compared women attending urban antenatal clinics information education communication antenatal care largest health division poor pregnant women illequipped make appropriate choices especially danger contributes persistence high maternal mortality ratios country