Abstract:
Aim: To detect the reasons of delayed first antenatal visit among pregnant women and effect on their newborn
Study design; cross sectional study.
Place and duration of study: This study was conducted in two years at Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital
Gujrat and Naseem Private Hospital Gujrat.
Methods: Total 156 pregnant women were selected for the study. All pregnant women came for first antenatal
visit after 20 weeks of gestation. All the pregnant women were examined properly after history. During history and
examination problems of pregnancy were also detected like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, anemia, intrauterine
growth retardation, anomalous babies, molar pregnancy etc. Required investigations were done after history and
examination. Whenever required, pregnant women were admitted and immediately treatment was started.
Results: 156 pregnant women were included in the study. Forty two (26.92 %) pregnant women were 16-25 years
old, 90 (57.69%) were 26-35 years old, and 24 (15.38%) were from 36-45 years old age group. Most of the
women were belonging to low socioeconomic status 138(88.46%) and only 18 (11.53%) women were from high
socioeconomic status group Most of the women 98(62.82%) visited first time for checkup during 21-26 weeks of
gestation and 58 (37.17%) entered in hospital for first antenatal visit in 27-36 weeks of gestation. Regarding baby
outcome , only one (1.02%) baby was anomalous. Women presenting first time in 21-26 weeks of gestation
showed better results. 86 ( 87.75%) newborns were delivered full term , 08 (8.16%) were preterm and 03 (3.06%)
were IUGR. on other hand women presenting very late during 27-36 weeks gestation delivered 38 (65.51%) full
term, 12(20.68%) preterm and 8(13.79%) IUGR babies.
Conclusions: By empowerment of women, proper family planning, involving husbands and parents in pregnancy
care, female education, increasing health facilities and availability of proper transport facilities may decrease the
high chances of delayed antenatal care in Pakistan
