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Research article
Perceptions of pregnant women of 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 the late initiation of antenatal care by pregnant women in Nkwen Baptist Health Centre, 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 were 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. The purpose of the study was explained to participants, and they signed a consent form if they were willing to participate in the research. Data were audio-recorded and analyzed using thematic coding analysis. Results: Pregnant women placed a low value on early antenatal care because they perceived pregnancy to be a normal health condition or to not be a serious issue that required seeking health care. Furthermore, previous positive pregnancy outcomes for which women did not access care made them less motivated to initiate antenatal care early. Participants perceived the booking system to be user-unfriendly and complained of overcrowded conditions, long waiting times and some rude service providers. The cost of services and distance to health facilities that required travel via uncomfortable transport on poor road networks 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 the 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 have significant influences on the timing of antenatal care initiation. The government of Cameroon should strengthen the health system and implement activities to engage communities in improving care seeking for antenatal care and thereby improving maternal health status of women.
Keywords
Antenatal care, Maternal health, Pregnant women, Midwives, Care-seeking, Health education
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Likajo Eposi silo
commented on 09 July, 2020
Excellent work
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 5
Posted 20 Jan, 2020
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
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: 1
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
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 of 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
Version 5
Posted 20 Jan, 2020
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
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: 1
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 the late initiation of antenatal care by pregnant women in Nkwen Baptist Health Centre, 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 were 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. The purpose of the study was explained to participants, and they signed a consent form if they were willing to participate in the research. Data were audio-recorded and analyzed using thematic coding analysis. Results: Pregnant women placed a low value on early antenatal care because they perceived pregnancy to be a normal health condition or to not be a serious issue that required seeking health care. Furthermore, previous positive pregnancy outcomes for which women did not access care made them less motivated to initiate antenatal care early. Participants perceived the booking system to be user-unfriendly and complained of overcrowded conditions, long waiting times and some rude service providers. The cost of services and distance to health facilities that required travel via uncomfortable transport on poor road networks 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 the 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 have significant influences on the timing of antenatal care initiation. The government of Cameroon should strengthen the health system and implement activities to engage communities in improving care seeking for antenatal care and thereby improving maternal health status of women.
Likajo Eposi silo
commented on 09 July, 2020
Excellent work