Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 4, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

14.4K

Relationship between adequacy of prenatal care utilization index and pregnancy outcomes

Tahereh Tayebi1, Shahnaz Turk Zahrani2, Rezaali Mohammadpour3

  • 1Department of Midwifery, faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.

Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research
|January 10, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Adequate prenatal care significantly reduces the risk of preterm labor and low birth weight. Inadequate prenatal care utilization increases these risks, highlighting the importance of comprehensive antepartum support for better maternal and infant outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Public Health
  • Obstetrics

Background:

  • Prenatal care is crucial for positive pregnancy outcomes, preventing complications like preterm labor and low birth weight.
  • Inadequate prenatal care utilization is a significant concern, necessitating accurate measurement and assessment.
  • The adequacy of prenatal care utilization index offers a comprehensive measure for evaluating care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the adequacy of prenatal care utilization among mothers in Sari.
  • To investigate the relationship between the adequacy of prenatal care and the incidence of preterm labor and low birth weight.

Main Methods:

  • An analytic historical cohort study involving 420 mothers in Sari during 2010.
  • Data collected via interviews and questionnaires, categorizing prenatal care into intensive, adequate, intermediate, and inadequate.
  • Statistical analysis included chi-square, ANOVA, Spearman correlation, and relative risk (RR).

Main Results:

  • Inadequate prenatal care was observed in 36% of cases, representing the highest percentage.
  • A significant association was found between the adequacy of prenatal care utilization and both preterm labor and low birth weight (P < 0.05).
  • Inadequate care increased the relative risk of preterm labor by 1.36 times and low birth weight by 1.08 times compared to adequate and intensive care.

Conclusions:

  • The study confirms the effectiveness of adequate prenatal care in reducing preterm labor and low birth weight.
  • Emphasis is placed on minimum care standards and the need for further research into the quantity of care and its impact on outcomes.
  • Findings support the efficacy of prenatal care programs in improving maternal and infant health, aligning with national protocols.
Abstract

Keywords:
Adequacy of prenatal care utilization indexIranlow birth weightpregnancy outcomeprenatal carepreterm birth

Related Concept Videos

Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
6.3K
Guidelines for Writing Outcome01:11

Guidelines for Writing Outcome

When developing expected outcomes for a patient care plan, the nurse should adhere to the following recommendations:
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care...
3.8K
Nursing Evaluation01:15

Nursing Evaluation

The evaluation stage signals the end of the nursing process. The nurse gathers evaluative data to assess whether or not the patient has attained the expected results. Whereas the nurse collects data in the nursing assessment to identify the patient's health concerns, the evaluation stage data determines if the indicated health issues are resolved. Evaluative data collection includes two sections: the data acquired to evaluate patient outcomes and the time criteria for data collection.
4.1K
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches01:23

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches

Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
627
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
65
Odds Ratio01:09

Odds Ratio

The odds ratio (OR) is a statistical measure used extensively in epidemiology and research to quantify the strength of association between exposure and outcome across different groups. Unlike relative risk, which compares the probabilities of an event occurring, the odds ratio compares the odds of an event occurring in the exposed group to the odds of it occurring in the unexposed group. The odds, in this context, are calculated as the probability of the event happening divided by the...
2.3K