1.1 Introduction
Antenatal care (ANC) is an umbrella term used to describe the medical procedures and care that are carried out during pregnancy. It is the care a woman receives throughout the period of her pregnancy and is important in helping to ensure a healthy pregnancy state and safe childbirth (Magadi, Madise & Diamond, 2010). Pregnancy causes many physical and psychological changes in a woman. A nurse who works with pregnant women and their families must be familiar with these changes to provide anticipatory guidelines and this can be done by providing adequate pre-natal care. One of the ways to keep the expectant mother healthy and able to take self care is to give timely need based health education to the woman.
According to Osariemen (2011), most health reform efforts have been geared towards increasing availability of healthcare services, without commensurate increase in quality. Studies have shown that increased availability of service does not always translate to increased access to healthcare (Osariemen, 2011).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
An effective intervention against maternal mortality exists yet millions of pregnant women die of preventable complications due to lack of knowledge of current government intervention (Bhatia and Cleland, 2009). High maternal death in Nigeria is of utmost concern to public health (Ekele, Shehu, Ahmed & Fache, 2008). Knowledge and attitude towards Focus Antenatal Care (FANC) utilization by pregnant women are key to the usage of Antenatal Care facilities for the reduction of maternal and infant mortality (Munjanja, Lindmark & Nystrom, 2006).
Efforts have been made by the government and Non-Governmental Agencies to reduce maternal and infant mortality. These efforts according to Umeora, Sunday-Adeoye and Ugwu, (2008), have made little or no impact in Nigeria because of health ignorance of effective antenatal care services in Nigeria. In spite of the years of defeat in reducing maternal mortality, scientific knowledge about it continued up until now. Antenatal care is one of the basic components of maternal care on which the life of mothers and babies depend (Saseendran,Mary & William, 2004).
Nisar and White (2003) stated that antenatal care (ANC) is an important determinant of good maternal health. Lack of ante natal care is a risk factor for maternal mortality, and reduction of maternal mortality requires early detection of high risk pregnancies through proper ante natal care. Maternal health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the post partum period. It encompasses the health care dimensions of family planning, pre-conception, prenatal, and postnatal care in order to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality (WHO, 2005). Good maternal health can be promoted through proper maternal health education which invariably influences maternal health attitude. Positive health education and attitude is capable of influencing maternal morbidity and mortality among pregnant women, thus the need for the study.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Significance of Antenatal Care Service to Pregnant Women Health.
1.3 Statement of the Problem
Investigation revealed that good health for mothers is an important public health concern. Death during childbirth is often the concluding event in a long story of pain and suffering. Millions more are left with permanent disability and damage which impact their ability to undertake social and economic responsibilities and share in the development of their communities.
The deaths, many of which may be preventable, impact women who are not only childbearing but are also often the mainstays within a family as careers to the young and old, bread winners and educators of children (Scotland Malawi Partnership, 2010). Maternal morbidity and mortality constitute a serious health problem that requires systematic investigations and effective health education of pregnant women to forestall the increase of infant mortality.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study
This aim of the study is to evaluate the Significance of Antenatal Care Service to Pregnant Women Health. In achieving this aim, the following objectives were laid out as follows:
- To identify best practices and successful strategies for enhancing the significance of ANC services in promoting maternal and neonatal health;
- To identify barriers and challenges faced by pregnant women in accessing antenatal care services;
- To determine the proportion of pregnant women accessing antenatal care services in the target population;
- To examine the level of educational awareness of pregnant women towards antenatal care in the study area; and
- To evaluate the effectiveness of health promotion and education interventions delivered through antenatal care services in improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What are the best practices and successful strategies for enhancing the significance of ANC services in promoting maternal and neonatal health?
- What are the barriers and challenges faced by pregnant women in accessing antenatal care services?
- What is the proportion of pregnant women accessing antenatal care services in the target population?
- What is the level of educational awareness of pregnant women towards antenatal care in the study area?
- How effective is health promotion and education interventions delivered through antenatal care services in improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: Adequate utilization of antenatal care services does not improve the health outcomes of pregnant women by facilitating early detection and management of complications, promoting healthy behaviors, and providing essential information and support throughout the prenatal period.
- H1: Adequate utilization of antenatal care services significantly improves the health outcomes of pregnant women by facilitating early detection and management of complications, promoting healthy behaviors, and providing essential information and support throughout the prenatal period.
1.7 Significance of Study
The significance of antenatal care (ANC) services to pregnant women's health is well-documented in numerous studies and reports. The study would be of immense importance to the health sector in Nigeria as it would highlight the benefits of health education to pregnant women in attending antenatal care so as to reduce infant mortality in Nigeria. This study will also be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of this research is focused on the Significance of Antenatal Care Service to Pregnant Women Health.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Operational Definition of Terms
Health Education:
It is any combination of learning experiences designed to help individuals and communities improve their health, by increasing their knowledge or influencing their attitudes.
