Poor antenatal care and pregnancy outcome

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Public Health
• Perinatal Medicine

Background:

• Antenatal care is crucial for monitoring pregnancy and identifying risks.
• Understanding characteristics of women with poor antenatal care attendance is essential for targeted interventions.
• Previous studies highlight the importance of regular antenatal visits for improved maternal and infant outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define the profile of women with insufficient antenatal care.
• To evaluate the association between poor antenatal care and perinatal risks.
• To identify specific adverse pregnancy outcomes linked to reduced antenatal visit frequency.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of computerized data from a public hospital in Paris (1987-1990).
• Comparison of 'poor attenders' (less than 3 visits) with 'good attenders' (3 or more visits).
• Inclusion of a representative sample from the Ile-de-France region for context.

Main Results:

• Poor antenatal care attenders were younger.
• Significantly higher rates of perinatal mortality (4.7%) were observed in poor attenders.
• Increased odds of preterm delivery (OR 5.2) and low birth weight (OR 4.6) were associated with inadequate antenatal care.

Conclusions:

• Insufficient antenatal care is a significant risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes.
• The elevated risk associated with poor antenatal care is not solely explained by unfavorable socioeconomic conditions.
• Targeted strategies are needed to improve antenatal care access and adherence among vulnerable populations.