1.1 Background: Antenatal care is essential for protecting the health of women and their unborn children [9]. Through this form of preventive health care, women can learn from skilled health personnel about healthy behaviors during pregnancy, better understand warning signs during pregnancy and childbirth, and receive social, emotional and psychological support at this critical time in their lives [10]. Through antenatal care, pregnant women can also access micronutrient supplementation, treatment for hypertension to prevent eclampsia, as well as immunization against tetanus [8]. Antenatal care can also provide HIV testing and medications to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. In areas where malaria is endemic, health personnel can provide pregnant women with medications and insecticide-treated mosquito nets to help prevent this debilitating and sometimes deadly disease [12].
1.2 Objective: The main objective of this research is to assess the quality of antenatal care given to the pregnant women before delivery at Bugarika and Igogo dispensaries.
1.3 Methodology: The research study design would involve pregnant women who attend the antenatal clinic before delivery at Bugarika and Igogo dispensaries. Only the the pregnant
women aged 18-year-old and above who visit the specific clinic who will be ready to participate. Data has been analyzed through IBM SPSS20 computer program.
1.4 Results: Among the 134 participants who attended antenatal clinic visits at Bugarika and Igogo dispensaries; 94% obtained good quality, 5.2% obtained moderate quality and 0.7% had poor quality.
1.5 Conclusion: The findings of this study have shown that the pregnant women who attended antenatal clinic at Bugarika and Igogo dispensaries had good quality antenatal care.
1.6 BACKGROUND Antenatal care is essential for protecting the health of women and their unborn children. Through this form of preventive health care, women can learn from skilled health personnel about healthy behaviors during pregnancy, better understand warning signs during pregnancy and childbirth, and receive social, emotional and psychological support at this critical time in their lives [1]. Through antenatal care, pregnant women can also access micronutrient supplementation, treatment for hypertension to prevent eclampsia, as well as immunization against tetanus [2]. Antenatal care can also provide HIV testing and medications to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. In areas where malaria is endemic, health personnel can provide pregnant women with medications and insecticide-treated mosquito nets to help prevent this debilitating and sometimes deadly disease [3].
1.7 PROBLEM STATEMENT Good care during pregnancy is important for the health of the mother and the development of the unborn baby [1]. Pregnancy is a crucial time to promote healthy behaviors and parenting skills. Good ANC links the woman and her family with the formal health system, increases the chance of using a skilled attendant at birth and contributes to good health through the life cycle [5]. Inadequate care during this time breaks a critical link in the continuum of care, and effects both women and babies. Proportion of women failed to utilize ANC services fully during their pregnancy due to several reasons including lack of male involvement or lack of men’s interest in ANC, perceived poor quality of care, poverty and socio-cultural beliefs. This shows that the ANC visit still faces challenges in many aspects which may hinder the quality of the care to be given to the pregnant women, and that’s the reason why a research has to be conducted in local health care centers to access the qualities of the care given [4].
1.8 RATIONALE The aims of antenatal care are to optimize maternal and fetal health, to offer women maternal and fetal screening, to make medical or social interventions available to women where indicated, to improve women's experience of pregnancy and birth and to prepare women for motherhood whatever their risk status [3]. The data which will be obtained will offer the results that may help to improve the qualities of the care in the specific centers. Furthermore, this study is part and parcel of partial fulfillment of doctor of medicine degree course.
1.9 RESEARCH QUESTON: To determine the quality of antenatal care given to pregnant women at Bugarika and Igogo dispensaries
1.10 OBJECTIVES
1.11 Broad objectives The main objective of this research is to assess the quality of antenatal care given to the pregnant women before delivery.
1.12 Specific objectives; • Access the quality of services given to the pregnant women before delivery • Proportion of attendance to the clinic in response to the services given