Antenatal care practices of pregnant women in a rural community in Enugu state, Southeast Nigeria

Awoman’s health – related practices during pregnancy can significantly influence her health and that of her fetus. Some of the antenatal care practices in developing countries particularly in low resource rural communities may be impacting negatively on the health and wellbeing of the mother and fetus. There is need to delineate these practices so that health education programs, when planned, will be apt and appropriately directed. The study explored how pregnant women in a rural community in Enugu state, Southeast Nigeria, manage their pregnancy and the associated minor disorders. The exploratory qualitative design was adopted. 110 pregnant women were purposively drawn through convenience sampling and engaged in 10 focused group discussions. The audiotaped information was transcribed, coded and emerging concepts were categorized and four themes emerged. Many participants accessed antenatal care from traditional birth attendants; they registered in the first trimester not because of perceived benefits but because of illness. Food taboos prevented the consumption of some cheap sources of protein, carbohydrate and iron and home remedies were used for treatment of minor disorders of pregnancy. The management of pregnancy by unskilled and uncertified health care providers may result in non-detection of early signs of risk factors and in poor management that may be detrimental to both the mother and the fetus. Thus antenatal care practices may be contributing to the continuing high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality seen in Nigeria. Education on the appropriate antenatal care practices will help to reverse this trend.