Association of antenatal care and birth outcome: A community based cross-sectional study in Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Introduction: Adverse birth outcome is a major health concern especially in developing nations and abortion & stillbirth are two most common forms of natural pregnancy losses. The prevalence of stillbirth (4.2 to 14.8) is reported to be widely variable across the Indian states; whereas an estimated number of abortions in India was 15.6 million in the year 2015. Objective: To find an association between antenatal care factors with birth outcome in Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 406 registered pregnant women in rural area of Banda District. A multistage simple random sampling was used. House to house visit was paid to collect the data.  Result: The birth outcomes reported in the present study were: live birth (91.6%), stillbirths (5.9%) and spontaneous abortions/miscarriage (2.46%). 25% of all babies were born with a low birth weight, 20% of all deliveries were pre-term in nature, and 10% were home deliveries. Early ANC registration (p<0.001), ?4 ANC visits (p<0.001), consumption of IFA and deworming tablets (p<0.001), and receiving dietary counselling (p<0.05), had statistically significant association with favourable birth outcome, however; advice on danger signs in pregnancy, history of substance abuse, and use of traditional medicine had no significant association with birth outcome. Conclusion: The quality and frequency of antenatal care services has significant association with birth outcome. Early ANC registration, four or more ANC visit, consumption of IFA and deworming tablets and getting dietary counselling during pregnancy were important for favourable birth outcome i.e. live birth.

Key-words: Birth outcome, Ante natal care, live birth, still birth, abortion, Maternal health.