EVALUATION OF ANTENATAL CARE SERVICES AND WOMEN’S PERCEPTION IN ASSIUT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Abstract

The aim of the cohort study was to evaluate antenatal care, mother's perception (opinion) about ANC and role of nurse as a care provider in out-patient antenatal clinic at Assiut University Hospital. This study showed the difference between two groups of mothers one of whom received ANC at regular visits and other who not receive ANC regularly during pregnancy period. Subject and methods: The total sample was 1755 women, divided into two groups; group one who attended regular for antenatal visits (660) and group two attended irregularly (1095).12% of them were visited at home through early The tools used to collected data were, interviewing sheet, antenatal follow-up record and postpartum evaluation sheet. Results: The main findings of this study were 38% attended regularly. Postpartum problems was 49.5% irregular versus 12.4% regular group, women's opinion was 100% regular Vs irregular said antenatal care was effective. Conclusions: The regularity of ANC visits achieved good outcome for regular attendance mothers. Recommendations: Taking into consideration the opinion of women, it is possible to arrive to a provisional conclusion on how antenatal care varies according to women cultures. Adopted the new WHO antenatal care model in our maternal care services to eradicate of women's barrier to attend regularly for antenatal care visits.