More women use prenatal services

Growing numbers of women understand the importance of prenatal care and are acting to improve their own health and that of their babies, according to a report from the Aga Khan Foundation. In 8 of the foundation's primary health care program areas in Kenya, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, more women receive prenatal care, more are immunized against tetanus, and more give birth in the presence of a trained attendant than a few years ago. Statistics of improvement vary considerably between programs, not least because of differing levels of acceptance and availability of services when the programs began. However, the overall trend in the 4 countries is towards greater knowledge of health issues and greater readiness to act upon that knowledge. In Mombasa, Kenya, 81% of pregnant women received prenatal care at least once in 1986, and this has since risen to 87%. In Vur, Bangladesh, where only 27% of pregnant women received prenatal care in 1986, this has now risen to 75%.