Health-service utilization by pregnant women in the greater Mafikeng-Mmabatho district

Since the implementation of free maternity services in South Africa from 1994, more maternity services were provided (SA, 1994: 73). These services are however inaccessible to many pregnant women in the rural areas, leading to sub-optimal antenatal health service utilization. Another problem that emerged, is deterioration in antenatal health service rendering throughout the country, as well as a lack of guidelines for the mobilization of pregnant women in order to promote optimal antenatal health service utilization (ANHSU) in the North West Province. The mentioned problems were the reasons for undertaking this research. The aims formulated for this research were: To determine the composition of the infrastructure of the antenatal health services and the efficacy of the antenatal health-service rendering in the greater Mafikeng-Mmabatho District; To undertake a survey of the ANHSU by pregnant women attending the mentioned services; To explore and describe the perceptions of these pregnant women regarding ANHSU; To formulate recommendations for antenatal health service providers working in the greater Mafikeng-Mmabatho District for the mobilization of pregnant women to promote optimal ANHSU. A qualitative survey design was followed within the context of the greater Mafikeng-Mmabatho District in the North West Province. Data-collection was managed through completion of structured questionnaires by chief professional nurses and puerperal women and by holding semi-structured interviews with puerperal women who were selected using non-probable, voluntary and purposive sampling. The findings that emerged were, that the composition of the infrastructure of the majority antenatal health services in the greater Mafikeng-Mmabatho District were insufficiently equipped indicating the provision of ineffective antenatal health service rendering. Pregnant women were utilizing the antenatal health services sub-optimally and the exploration and description of their ANHSU, revealed factors promoting and preventing utilization. Recommendations have been formulated for nursing education, nursing research and nursing practice with specific reference to the formulation of guidelines for antenatal health service providers to promote optimal ANHSU by pregnant women.