Association between antenatal care visits and birth preparedness among pregnant women

Abstract

Background: Maternal mortality remains a significant public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Antenatal care (ANC) plays a vital role in reducing maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality by promoting birth preparedness and complication readiness. Despite the availability of services, many women still do not attend the recommended number of ANC visits or make adequate preparations for childbirth. Objective: To determine the association between antenatal care visits and birth preparedness among pregnant women and to identify socio-demographic factors influencing birth preparedness. Methodology: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, from January 2024 to December 2024. A total of 259 pregnant women with gestational age ≥28 weeks were enrolled using non-probability consecutive sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Birth preparedness was assessed using the WHO BPCR module. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for analysis. Results: The mean age of participants was 26.7 ± 4.8 years. About 62.2% attended four or more ANC visits, and 64.5% had adequate birth preparedness. Women who attended ≥4 ANC visits were significantly more likely to be adequately prepared compared to those with fewer visits (82.0% vs. 35.7%, p < 0.001). Early initiation of ANC and higher maternal education were also significantly associated with better birth preparedness. Conclusion: Regular antenatal care attendance is strongly associated with improved birth preparedness. Efforts should focus on increasing ANC uptake and integrating birth planning education into routine maternal health services, especially for less educated and rural women.