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Women’s Perceptions about Ante-natal Care Access, Marrere Hospital, Nampula, Mozambique, 2014.
P Pires1, R Siemens2, D João3, E Mureheira4, A Baptista5, C Jemussen6, S Bethe7
1 MD, Lecturer, Lurio University Health Sciences Faculty, Mozambique. Tel. 00258824235287, e.mail: Este endereço de email está protegido contra piratas. Necessita ativar o JavaScript para o visualizar.
2 MD, Lecturer, Saskatchewan University, Canada.
3 Medical Student, Lurio University Health Sciences Faculty, Mozambique.
4 Medical Student, Lurio University Health Sciences Faculty, Mozambique.
5 Medical Student, Lurio University Health Sciences Faculty, Mozambique.
6 Medical Student, Lurio University Health Sciences Faculty, Mozambique.
7 Medical Student, Lurio University Health Sciences Faculty, Mozambique.
Abstract
Introduction: Mother and newborn mortality rates in Mozambique are the highest in the Eastern African region. Less than four ante-natal visits and low rates of institutional delivery by trained birth attendants are associated with maternal and newborn deaths in the literature. This study aims to understand the perceptions of women in Marrere, Nampula, regarding ante-natal care and determine the barriers to accessing primary health care services.
Methods: Descriptive qualitative study, with researcher led semi structured interviews of pregnant women and women who have given birth within the last year who presented to the Marrere Hospital Mother and Child Health clinic.
Results: We interviewed a total of 30 women, 25 were in their 3rd trimester of pregnancy and five had given birth within the last year. The 30 women had an average age of 24 years and a mean number of 3,7 pregnancies per women. The group had a low knowledge level regarding need and reasons for ante natal care (13 women, 43%); the majority of the participants presented for their first ante-natal visit in the second trimester of pregnancy (18 women, 60%). The majority of women were illiterates (16 women, 53%). Women (9, 27%) stated that “bad luck” was the cause of their miscarriages and (25 women, 83%) said witchcraft is a strong risk for pregnancies and miscarriages, thus women try to hide their pregnancy and wait until late in the pregnancy to seek ante-natal care.
