[Analysis on the status of antenatal checkup program in certain areas of China, 2005]

To investigate the status and related factors on antenatal checkup program in women from certain parts of China.

A total number of 13 532 mothers who had children under-3 years of age, from 920 village in 46 counties, were recruited through random sampling methodology. SPSS 11.5, chi(2) test and logistic regression were used for data analysis.

The coverage of antennal care was 95.7%, with the average times of antenatal checkup as 4.9. The proportion of women who received five and more times of antenatal checkup was 50.8%. 25.9% of the pregnant women received antenatal checkup before 12 weeks of gestation. There were significant differences among data on antenatal coverage and the proportion of > or = 5 times antenatal checkup as well as having received antenatal checkup before 12 weeks (P < 0.01). Factors including age, education, nationality and economic situation had influenced the rates on antenatal checkup. Women with illiteracy had a lower antenatal checkup rate than those literate. Women under Han nationality and at 25 - 34 years of age had higher rates on antenatal checkup than other minorities or at other age groups. Rates on women having had > or = 5 times of antenatal checkup or having antenatal checkup before 12 weeks of gestation were 52.8% and 26.7% in the families that owned a television set and 56.7%, 28.1% in the families that owned traffic tools. Data from factor analysis revealed that nationality, age, women's education level, properties as owning television set or traffic tools in the families, knowledge on hospital delivery and health education provided during pregnancy were related to the rates of antenatal checkup.

The quality of antenatal checkup, especially at the first 1 weeks, should be improved.