Global perspective Human stories

UN joint report says more women getting prenatal care in developing countries

UN joint report says more women getting prenatal care in developing countries

An increase in women receiving antenatal care
The number of women in developing countries receiving prenatal care has risen 20 per cent since 1990, with the lowest percentage being in South Asia, according to a joint report issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

"The advantages of receiving regular antenatal care cannot be stressed enough," said Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF. "If a woman comes for antenatal care early in her pregnancy, there is time for early diagnosis and treatment of infections in the mother, and an opportunity to prevent low birth weight and other conditions in the newborn."

The study spotlights governments that now see prenatal or antenatal medical visits as an opportunity to provide the pregnant woman with, say, a vaccination to prevent tetanus, an insecticide-treated net screen to prevent malaria, tests for anaemia, enrolment in Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV and counselling for a safe delivery.

These factors help to ensure that the mother remains healthy through childbirth.

Prenatal care increases the likelihood that a skilled attendant - a doctor, midwife, nurse, or other health care provider with equivalent skills - is present at the birth and can detect and manage childbirth complications. This assistance may mean the difference between life and death for mother and child.

"The most dangerous time for a pregnant woman is the critical period around labour and delivery, which is when most women die," said Joy Phumaphi, Assistant Director-General for Family and Community Health at WHO. "Giving care and information during pregnancy can help reduce the number of women who die giving birth."

More than half of women in the developing world are getting at least four antenatal visits, in line with the WHO recommendation. Notable exceptions include Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Morocco, Nepal and Yemen, all of which have relatively high percentages of women who have only one antenatal care visit.

In Nepal 38 per cent of women reported at least one visit, but only 9 per cent reported four or more visits. South Asia, overall, had the lowest levels of antenatal care with only half of women getting even one visit.