Antenatal and Postnatal Care

Antenatal and Postnatal care: why does it matter?

 Antenatal care (ANC) is essential for protecting the health of women and their unborn babies. Demand has increased and continues to do so in most parts of the world. Globally, it is estimated that just over 7 out of 8 pregnant women attend a healthcare provider for antenatal care on at least one occasion, and only 59% attend four times or more 1There are missed opportunities to address the comprehensive health needs of women and babies. Underlying complications during pregnancy account for an estimated 27.5% of maternal deaths globally. Antenatal care is essential for protecting the health of women and their unborn children 2. Many of the antecedents or conditions associated with the direct causes of maternal mortality can be recognised and management instituted during pregnancy to prevent adverse outcome for both the mother and her unborn baby. Additionally, most maternal and newborn deaths occur in the first week after birth, yet currently it is estimated only 48% of women and babies globally receive postnatal care (PNC) 3. Care in the period following birth is critical not only for survival but also for the future health and development of both the mother and her baby. 

Most healthcare providers are trying to deliver quality care to women within a poorly supported health system with challenges including shortage of staff, equipment, drugs and poor health system infrastructure 4. Current pre-service training often does not fully equip healthcare providers for the roles they are in and there is generally a lack of competency based in-service (on the job) training available. This leaves many healthcare providers feeling poorly supported. LSTM has conducted large scale studies which show that the burden of disease during and after pregnancy is very significant 5. There is a need to improve the content of ANC and PNC such that this meets the health needs of mothers and babies in low-and-middle-income-countries. 

Of the 50 essential interventions for reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health for which there is evidence of effectiveness and which can be expected to have a significant impact on maternal, newborn and child survival sixteen (including the specific components of the antenatal care package) are expected to be implemented as part of antenatal care 6and twelve are intended to be provided as part of postnatal care 6.

https://data.unicef.org/topic/maternal-health/antenatal-care/
https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/topic-details/GHO/world-health-statistics
https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/topic-details/GHO/world-health-statistics
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0153391
https://gh.bmj.com/content/3/3/e000625
https://www.who.int/pmnch/knowledge/publications/201112_essential_interventions/en/