Irregular Antenatal Care Attendance among Pregnant Women during COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Authors

  • Meenu Maharajan Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal
  • Kamana Sen KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal
  • Bibechan Thapa Department of Emergency Medicine, Kirtipur Hospital, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Sushmita Shrestha KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal
  • Aradhana Jayaswal KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal
  • Alina Poudel KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal
  • Prasnna Basnet KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal
  • Sunita Rajya Laxmi Rana KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal
  • Sneha Chaudhary KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal
  • Pratistha Shrestha KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal
  • Kritick Bhandari KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Imadol, Lalitpur, Nepal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.7472

Keywords:

antenatal care; COVID-19; pregnant women.

Abstract

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has made access to antenatal care services difficult, which could lead to serious implications for the health of mothers and fetus. There is limited study regarding its impact on pregnant women. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of irregular antenatal care attendance among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary care centre.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among pregnant women attending antenatal care visits at the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics in a tertiary care centre from 23 July 2021 to 5 September 2021. Ethical approval was granted by the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 077/078/67). Convenience sampling was done. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.

Results: Among 196 pregnant women, 49 (25%) (18.96-31.06, 95% Confidence Interval) had irregular antenatal care attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusions: The prevalence of irregular antenatal care attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic was lower than other studies done in similar settings. Antenatal care is crucial to prevent maternal, fetal morbidity and mortality, hence uninterrupted antenatal care services should be provided even during crisis situation like COVID-19 pandemics.

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Published

2022-08-31

How to Cite

Maharajan, M., Sen, K., Thapa, B., Shrestha, S. ., Jayaswal, A. ., Poudel, A. ., Basnet, P. ., Rana, S. R. L., Chaudhary, S. ., Shrestha, P. ., & Bhandari , K. . (2022). Irregular Antenatal Care Attendance among Pregnant Women during COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study . Journal of Nepal Medical Association, 60(253), 796–799. https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.7472

Issue

Vol. 60 No. 253 (2022): JNMA: PUBLISHED MONTHLY

Section

Original Article

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Copyright (c) 2022 Meenu Maharajan, Kamana Sen, Bibechan Thapa, Sushmita Shrestha, Aradhana Jayaswal, Alina Poudel, Prasnna Basnet, Sunita Rajya Laxmi Rana, Sneha Chaudhary, Pratistha Shrestha, Kritick Bhandari

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