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Acceptability of focused antenatal care by pregnant Nigerian women and factors influencing it
Abstract
Context: In 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed "Focused Antenatal Care (FANC)"model for developing countries and it is aimed at addressing some of the challenges associated with the traditional model of antenatal care and to improve the quality of antenatal care services rendered. Despite its wide publicity, most teaching hospitals in Nigeria still practice the traditional ANC model, notwithstanding the high level of awareness of the tenet ofFANC among resident doctors.
Objective: This study aimed at assessing the acceptability of this new model by Nigerian pregnant women.
Methodology: This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted at the antenatal clinic at thc Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). A total of 410 consenting pregnant women at varying gestational ages were recruited for this study. Data collected was analyzed using Epi Info statistical software.
Results : The mean age ± S.D. of the subjects was 31.2 ± 4.3 years, with over half of the patients living close to the hospital (56.4%). The mean gestational age± S.D. at booking was 16.0± 6.3 weeks and 54.5% were high risk pregnancy. Over a third (35.1 %) of the women had missed at least 1 - 3 visits. A greater proportion (56.1%) of the pregnant women studied preferred the new model, FANC, while 42.4% indicated preference for the traditional model. The main reason for preferring FANC is convenience (92.2% of respondents). The main reasons for rejecting FANC are that complications can arise in pregnancy at anytime (71.3%) and 4 visits were adjudged to be inadequate (43.7%). Factors influencing thc acceptability of FANC by Nigerian pregnant women were age (p - 0.00(0). tribe (p '" 0.0487), proximity to the hospital (0.0088) and parity (p - 0.0006).
Conclusion: Many parturient are ready to accept FANC if given the opportunities. It should thus be offered to highly motivated women especially in urban cities in Nigeria where many educated women reside, but education on birth preparedness and complication readiness needs to be emphasized.
Key words: acceptability focused antenatal care, influencing factors.
