Using Trust databases to identify predictors of late booking for antenatal care within the UK

To identify predictors of late booking for antenatal care using routinely collected data.

Retrospective cohort study.

Variables were selected with reference to comprehensive literature review. Data were extracted from a London hospital case-note database, and predictors of late booking were identified using logistic regression.

In total, 5629 women were included in the study. Median gestation at booking was 14 weeks, and 31% of women booked after 18 weeks of gestation. Variables with insufficient data recorded included language abilities, nationality and social risk. Women aged between 15 and 19 years, women with more than four children, and women belonging to the ethnic group 'other' were all significantly more likely to book late. Women with a body mass index ≥30kg/m(2) were 1.5 times more likely to book late (not significant).

Case-note databases are a potentially easy and effective way to analyse access to care and provider compliance with quality standards. Current deficits in routine data collection need to be addressed urgently in order to make this possible.