Barriers to early prenatal care in South Africa
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Date
Authors
Haddad, Diane N.
Makin, J.D. (Jennifer Dianne)
Pattinson, Robert Clive
Forsyth, Brian William Cameron
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
OBJECTIVE : To understand the barriers delaying early prenatal care for women in South Africa. METHODS : Amixedmethods study was conducted at a center in Pretoria. RESULTS : Following interviews with 21women at a prenatal
clinic in Pretoria, a quantitative survey was completed by 204 postpartum women. During interviews, women
described presenting late owing to contemplating induced abortion, fear of HIV testing, and fear of jealousy
and bewitching. The survey results demonstrated that a majority of women (133 [65.2%]) reported knowledge
of recommendations to present before 12 weeks; however, the average gestational age at initial presentation
was 19.1 ± 7.7 weeks. Women were more likely to present earlier if the pregnancy was planned (P = 0.013)
and were less likely to if they had at any point contemplated induced abortion (P=0.021). Fears of bewitching
and harmful psychological stress owing to a positive HIV test result prevailed in both the interviews and the surveys.
CONCLUSION : Significant efforts should be devoted to improving access to contraception and prepregnancy
counseling in order to improve early prenatal care attendance. Similarly, addressing cultural concerns and
fears regarding pregnancy is imperative in promoting early attendance.
Description
Keywords
Access to care, Maternal mortality, Mixed-methods study, Obstetrics, Prenatal care, Sub-Saharan Africa, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), South Africa (SA)
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Haddad, DN, Makin, JD, Pattinson, RC & Forsyth, BW 2016, 'Barriers to early prenatal care in South Africa', International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, vol. 132, no. 1, pp. 64-67.