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Introduction april 3 2020 (3)

Introduction april 3 2020 (3)

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Chapter 1: Introduction

1.0 Background

Pregnancy is a normal physiological process. In this period, pregnant women

experience significant physiological changes in order to nourish and host the developing fetus

and be ready for labor (Soma-Pillay et al., 2016). This is a critical period wherein pregnant

women’s needs are increasing in different aspects, such as changes in the antenatal, natal, and

postnatal periods.

Antenatal care (ANC) must call attention to birth preparedness (BP) and expected-

complication readiness. This is vital for decreasing antenatal and/or perinatal illnesses that may

lead to death (Gebre, Gebremariam, & Abebe, 2015). Maternal and fetal health in Antenatal

care (ANC) can be ensured when there is enough number of skilled providers in hospitals and

clinics. There is proof that the right kind of ANC practices meted out at the appropriate time

has ‘life-saving potential’ for the betterment of both the mother and her fetus (Organization,

2016).

Regular ANC visits have many advantages such as the promotion of nutritional status

and health, increasing the chances of detecting gestational risks, psychological and counseling

support for pregnant women and their families, along with a greater chance of carrying out a

safe delivery with the assistance of skilled birth attendants, which in turn, would bring about

less maternal and fetal deaths (Tadele&Lamaro, 2017). According to the World Health

Organization (WHO), services provided during ANC visits include nutritional care, clinical

tests administering and testing maternal and fetal health status, protective steps such as

vaccinations and blood tests, treatment of common illnesses, and steps to improve overall care

and wellbeing of women (Organization, 2016).

Awareness of nutrition, exercise, immunization, warning signs, and antenatal follow-up

visits are crucial components of maintaining the health of a pregnant woman and the fetus

during the antenatal period. Timely ANC is mostly acknowledged to be efficient in avoiding

adverse pregnancy outcomes. The recommended number of prenatal visits is as follows: one

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visit every four weeks for the first 28 weeks of pregnancy; one visit at an interval of two weeks

until the end of 36 weeks of the pregnancy term; and then, one visit every week after 36 weeks

of the pregnancy term until labor (Cunningham, Leveno, Bloom, Spong, &Dashe, 2014).

Therefore, there would be about 12 ANC visits in a woman’s pregnancy period.

According to Davidson, London, and Ladewig (2012), a pregnant woman’s individual needs

and the assessment of her risks must determine the number of subsequent visits. However, the

WHO recommends that if a woman does not have complications during the pregnancy, she

requires a minimum of four ANC visits during her pregnancy (Villar et al., 2001).

Mere visits to ANC are not at all a sufficient precaution. The quality and standards of

the ANC practices are also crucial. According to the WHO, most ANC services compromise

on at least three broad parameters. These include the assessment process (history taking,

clinical examination, diagnostic tests), promotion and building awareness to raise health

standards (disseminating information regarding nutrition, birth control, and family planning as

well as information related to pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding practices), and lastly, care

provisions (including administration of vaccines and immunization, recordkeeping, postpartum

care and support) (Islam &Masud, 2018).

Pregnancy is an extremely demanding nutritional period. In this period, additional nutrients

are needed for both the pregnant woman and her fetus in order to improve fetal growth and

enable milk production during lactation (Mathew, 2017). However, when misunderstandings

about nutrition or food taboos are prevalent, pregnant women’s abilities to meet the necessary

nutritional requirements can be compromised, leading to a higher risk of pregnancy-related

complications (Zerfu, Umeta, & Baye, 2016).

Furthermore, maintaining an active physical lifestyle during pregnancy has been associated

with health advantages, including the treatment or prevention of gestational diabetes; increased

energy; improved mood; strengthened muscle condition; diminished backache, swelling,

bloating and constipation; and enhanced sleep(Melton, Marshall, Bland, Schmidt, & Guion,

2013).

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1 Chapter 1: Introduction 1.0 Background Pregnancy is a normal physiological process. In this period, pregnant women experience significant physiological changes in order to nourish and host the developing fetus and be ready for labor (Soma-Pillay et al., 2016). This is a critical period wherein pregnant women’s needs are increasing in different aspects, such as changes in the antenatal, natal, and postnatal periods. Antenatal care (ANC) must call attention to birth preparedness (BP) and expectedcomplication readiness. This is vital for decreasing antenatal and/or perinatal illnesses that may lead to death (Gebre, Gebremariam, & Abebe, 2015). Maternal and fetal health in Antenatal care (ANC) can be ensured when there is enough number of skilled providers in hospitals and clinics. There is proof that the right kind of ANC practices meted out at the appropriate time has ‘life-saving potential’ for the betterment of both the mother and her fetus (Organization, 2016). Regular ANC visits have many advantages such as the promotion of nutritional status and health, increasing the chances of detecting gestational risks, psychological and counseling support for pregnant women and their families, along with a greater chance of carrying out a safe delivery with the assistance of skilled birth attendants, which in turn, would bring about less maternal and fetal deaths (Tadele&Lamaro, 2017). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), services provided during ANC visits i ...
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