Frequency of antenatal care visits and neonatal mortality in Indonesia

To examine the relationship between frequency of antenatal care visits, as a whole and in each trimester, and neonatal mortality in Indonesia.

13 055 single births from the fifth Indonesia Demographic Health Survey in 2006-07.

Estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

Pregnant women who had more antenatal care visits experienced a lower risk of neonatal mortality and more benefit in the last trimester: the ORs against the 0-1 visit group, were 0.76 (95% CI 0.45-1.29) for 2 visits group, 0.54 (95% CI 0.33-0.87) for 3 visits group and 0.31 (95% CI 0.17-0.57) for 4 visits group, respectively. Individual ORs as a whole period were not significant, but ORs declined markedly at 7 visits or more.

The results may provide a valuable recommendation for the care of pregnant women in Indonesia.