Women’s expectations of antenatal care in the local public health sector

Abstract

Antenatal care is an important aspect of care given to pregnant women. This includes the monitoring of maternal and fetal health, the provision of advice and information, and the required medical investigations to ensure a healthy outcome for the mother and baby, together with a positive experience of birth. A quantitative study using a self-designed questionnaire was conducted to explore women’s expectations of antenatal care in the local public health sector. The study seeks to meet three objectives; to explore women’s views on the importance of antenatal care, to explore women’s personal experience of the care provided, and to identify changes women may feel appropriate in their antenatal care. Forty pregnant women were recruited by convenience sampling to take part in this study. All participants completed the questionnaire; yielding a 100% response rate. The results of the closed-ended questions were analysed by simple descriptive statistics, while open-ended questions were analysed by thematic analysis. The findings suggest that women think that antenatal care is an important aspect of care to ensure foetal development and wellbeing of the mother and baby. The positive attitudes of midwives and the provision of useful and understandable information were elements which the participants were mostly satisfied with. On the other hand, the participants were mostly disappointed by the long waiting time, overcrowding, rushed visits and the lack of continuity of care and carer. Strategies to overcome these problems were suggested by the participants. Some of these suggestions included keeping appointment times and having more structured appointment times to decrease the waiting time experienced, having longer visits, and always being seen by the same care provider to improve the continuity of care and carer. Recommendations for practice, education and further research are proposed in the conclusion of this study.