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Research article
Perceptions of pregnant women on reasons for late initiation of antenatal care: A qualitative interview study
Denis Warri
Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7696-8921
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.
Background: Antenatal care serves as a key entry point for a pregnant woman to receive a broad range of services and should be initiated at the onset of pregnancy. The aim of the study was to understand the reasons for late initiation of antenatal by pregnant women in Nkwen Baptist Health Center, Cameroon. Methods: The study applied purposive sampling to recruit eighteen pregnant women and three key informants for data collection through individual interviews. Pregnant women who initiated antenatal care after the first trimester were recruited during antenatal care clinics and interviewed in a room at the antenatal care unit. Key informants were midwives working at the antenatal care unit. Participation in the study was voluntary. Participants were explained the purpose of the study and signed a consent form if they were willing to participate in the research. Data was collected using an audio tape and analyzed using Thematic Coding Analysis. Results: Pregnant women place low value on early antenatal care due to the fact that they perceive pregnancy as a normal health condition or not a serious issue that requires seeking health care. Furthermore previous pregnancy outcomes that were positive regardless of accessing care made them less motivated to initiate antenatal care early. The booking system is perceived as user-unfriendly with overcrowded conditions, long waiting times and rudeness of some service providers. Cost of services and distance to health facilities with uncomfortable transport and poor road network were identified as perceived barriers. The absence of effective community health programmes, perceived lack of support from parents and spouses, fear of bewitchment and stigma due to cultural beliefs about early initiation of antenatal care were also identified as variables influencing late initiation. Conclusion: Pregnant women lack information on the purpose of early antenatal care. Health facility barriers as well as socio cultural beliefs also have significant influence on timing of antenatal care initiation. The government of Cameroon should strengthen the health system and implement activities that engage communities to improve timing of care seeking for antenatal care and thereby improve the maternal health status of women.
Keywords
Antenatal Care, Maternal health, Pregnant women, Midwives, Care-seeking, Health education
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
Published
On 03 Feb, 2020
Community comments: 1
Submission checks complete
On 16 Jan, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 16 Jan, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 09 Jan, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 01 Jan, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 27 Dec, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 13 Dec, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 12 Dec, 2019
Editor assigned
On 11 Dec, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 10 Dec, 2019
Editor invited
On 10 Dec, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 19 Nov, 2019
Review #2 received
Received 17 Nov, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 29 Oct, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 25 Oct, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 24 Oct, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 24 Oct, 2019
Editor assigned
On 24 Oct, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 23 Oct, 2019
Editor invited
On 23 Oct, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 15 Oct, 2019
Review #2 received
Received 14 Oct, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 07 Oct, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 27 Sep, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 25 Sep, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 24 Sep, 2019
Editor assigned
On 09 Sep, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 08 Sep, 2019
Editor invited
On 08 Sep, 2019
Version 1
Posted 04 Aug, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 19 Aug, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 17 Aug, 2019
Review #2 received
Received 08 Aug, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 01 Aug, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 30 Jul, 2019
Editor assigned
On 30 Jul, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 30 Jul, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 30 Jul, 2019
Editor invited
On 29 Jul, 2019
First submitted
On 30 Jun, 2019
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
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Subject Areas
Maternal & Fetal Medicine
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Perceptions of pregnant women on reasons for late initiation of antenatal care: A qualitative interview study
Denis Warri
Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7696-8921
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
Published
On 03 Feb, 2020
Community comments: 1
Submission checks complete
On 16 Jan, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 16 Jan, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 09 Jan, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 01 Jan, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 27 Dec, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 16 Dec, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 13 Dec, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 12 Dec, 2019
Editor assigned
On 11 Dec, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 10 Dec, 2019
Editor invited
On 10 Dec, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 19 Nov, 2019
Review #2 received
Received 17 Nov, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 29 Oct, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 25 Oct, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 24 Oct, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 24 Oct, 2019
Editor assigned
On 24 Oct, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 23 Oct, 2019
Editor invited
On 23 Oct, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 15 Oct, 2019
Review #2 received
Received 14 Oct, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 07 Oct, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 27 Sep, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 25 Sep, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 24 Sep, 2019
Editor assigned
On 09 Sep, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 08 Sep, 2019
Editor invited
On 08 Sep, 2019
Version 1
Posted 04 Aug, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 19 Aug, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 17 Aug, 2019
Review #2 received
Received 08 Aug, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 01 Aug, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 30 Jul, 2019
Editor assigned
On 30 Jul, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 30 Jul, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 30 Jul, 2019
Editor invited
On 29 Jul, 2019
First submitted
On 30 Jun, 2019
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Maternal & Fetal Medicine
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.
Background: Antenatal care serves as a key entry point for a pregnant woman to receive a broad range of services and should be initiated at the onset of pregnancy. The aim of the study was to understand the reasons for late initiation of antenatal by pregnant women in Nkwen Baptist Health Center, Cameroon. Methods: The study applied purposive sampling to recruit eighteen pregnant women and three key informants for data collection through individual interviews. Pregnant women who initiated antenatal care after the first trimester were recruited during antenatal care clinics and interviewed in a room at the antenatal care unit. Key informants were midwives working at the antenatal care unit. Participation in the study was voluntary. Participants were explained the purpose of the study and signed a consent form if they were willing to participate in the research. Data was collected using an audio tape and analyzed using Thematic Coding Analysis. Results: Pregnant women place low value on early antenatal care due to the fact that they perceive pregnancy as a normal health condition or not a serious issue that requires seeking health care. Furthermore previous pregnancy outcomes that were positive regardless of accessing care made them less motivated to initiate antenatal care early. The booking system is perceived as user-unfriendly with overcrowded conditions, long waiting times and rudeness of some service providers. Cost of services and distance to health facilities with uncomfortable transport and poor road network were identified as perceived barriers. The absence of effective community health programmes, perceived lack of support from parents and spouses, fear of bewitchment and stigma due to cultural beliefs about early initiation of antenatal care were also identified as variables influencing late initiation. Conclusion: Pregnant women lack information on the purpose of early antenatal care. Health facility barriers as well as socio cultural beliefs also have significant influence on timing of antenatal care initiation. The government of Cameroon should strengthen the health system and implement activities that engage communities to improve timing of care seeking for antenatal care and thereby improve the maternal health status of women.
Due to technical limitations, tables are only available as a download in the supplemental files section.