Abstract:

Background: Antenatal care is designed to provide preventive care and active intervention for acute medical problems for two interdependent patients (mother and fetus). Client education about pregnancy issues is as important as medical management during prenatal care asit provides care simultaneously to two interdependent patients; knowledge of the community on antenatal care will create good perception and attitudes on antenatal care. The objective of this study was to determine community perceptions and experiences on antenatal care and intrapartum care in Magu district:

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional community based survey was conducted among women of the aging (15-45) among 9 wards in Magu District-Mwanza region. The study population was all women in reproductive age (pregnancy and child bearing women less than 24 months) represented by a sample size of 399 women. The tool used for collected information was Samsung phone with saved questionnaire in magpi software. Following data collection, data entry and data analysis was completed by using SPSS software version 17.0.

Results: A total of 399 women were assessed on knowledge relating to problems occurring during pregnancy, among those 334 (83.7%) had knowledge on these problems, 22 (5.5%) they didn’t knew about these problems whether can endanger the life of a women and the remaining 43 (10.8%) they didn’t knew totally. In perception, when women do not go to a health facility to give birth, it is mainly because it is too difficult to get there 205 (51.4%) agreed, 41 (10.3%) strongly agreed and poor respect to women by health workers make women not to go to the health facility, 172 (43.1%) agreed and lastly personal experiences relating to current pregnancy and last birth, 24.8% had pregnancy among those 79 (79.8%) visited ANC clinics and among 322 women who gave birth last 24 months only 2 (0.5%) women didn’t visit ANC.

Conclusion and recommendations: Knowledge is still low in reference to the individual problems occurring during pregnancy and childbirth and during ANC visits, advises were not properly provided for example only 13% women were advised on blood donor preparations and 35.4% were advised on preparations for skilled HCW. Therefore; it is recommended that health workers should provide continuous education about ANC to mothers whenever they attend clinics for follow up with emphasis on knowledge on problems, birth preparations and place for delivery. Furthermore, health workers should put emphasis to mothers on the early attendance to the ANC clinics at least to start when the pregnancy is of 3 month duration so as to avoid late start.