Barriers to utilization of prenatal care services in Turkey

To identify barriers to utilization of prenatal care services in Turkey, including pregnant women's attitudes toward pregnancy and prenatal care.

Descriptive. The population was Turkish women who lived in Erzurum and had delivered their infants but were still hospitalised.

The sample of 446 women had or had not received prenatal care, had no complications during pregnancy, carried their pregnancies to term, and were considered to have normal deliveries. Attitudes toward pregnancy and prenatal care and barriers to prenatal care services were measured by use of a questionnaire.

Low education of pregnant women and unwanted pregnancy were barriers to use of prenatal care services. Additional barriers were negative attitudes toward pregnancy and attitudes toward prenatal care. These barriers decreased frequency of use and delayed early initiation of prenatal care. The most important barrier reported by the women was being too busy at home to seek care.

Although this sample was limited, the findings indicate barriers for attention by health care providers to ensure appropriate prenatal care and maternal and infant health.