Objective: Frequency of psycho-social barriers to early initiation of antenatal care
Settings: Study was conducted in the antenatal clinic/outpatient department of Lady Willingdon Hospital Lahore.
Results: In this trial, out of 25 cases, 74.4%(n=186) were between 18-25 years and 25.6%(n=64) were between 26-35 years, mean+sd was calculated as 24.46+4.26 years, 46.8%(n=117) were between 12-36 weeks and 53.2%(n=133) were between 37-41 weeks of gestation, mean+sd was calculated as 31.13+8.53 weeks. Frequency of psycho-social barriers to early initiation of antenatal care reveals that 71.2%(n=178) had lack of knowledge towards ANC, 14.4%(n=36) had low educational status, 29.2%(n=73) had traditional practices(Dai system), 32.4%(n=81) had lack of social support while 44.8%(n=112) had lack of organized referral system & measured.
Conclusion: We concluded that lack of knowledge towards ANC, low educational status, Traditional practices (Dai system) and Lack of organized referral system & measured are found to be the major factors creating hindrance for antenatal care and these factors are avoidable. It is required that these factors may be removed for enhancing early antenatal booking.
Keywords: Antenatal care, psycho-social barriers, lack of knowledge, low educational status, traditional practices, Lack of organized referral system & measured
