Pattern of prenatal care utilization in Tehran: A population based longitudinal study.

Area of Science:

• Maternal Health
• Public Health
• Healthcare Access

Background:

• Prenatal care is crucial for maternal and infant health outcomes.
• Understanding utilization patterns is key to identifying disparities and improving services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate prenatal care utilization among pregnant women in Tehran.
• To assess adherence to national and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
• To investigate the equity of access across different socio-economic strata.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 2005 pregnant women in Tehran were followed from the sixth week of gestation until birth.
• Data collected via interviews and medical records.
• Analysis focused on visit completion rates and provider types.

Main Results:

• Over 95% of women completed all eight recommended prenatal care visits; 99% completed at least four.
• Prenatal care utilization was consistent across all socio-economic regions in Tehran.
• Gynecologists were the predominant healthcare providers, with 75% of women utilizing them for first-trimester screening.

Conclusions:

• Prenatal care utilization in Tehran aligns with established national and WHO guidelines.
• Equitable access to prenatal care services across socio-economic groups suggests social justice in healthcare provision.
• Gynecologists play a central role in delivering prenatal care in the study population.