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| Special emphasis must be placed on prenatal and post-natal care, essential obstetric care and care for newborns, particularly for those living in areas without access to services. |
The challenge
The antenatal period presents important opportunities for reaching pregnant women with a number of interventions that may be vital to their health and well-being and that of their infants.During pregnancy, regular contact with a doctor, nurse or midwife allows health personnel to manage the pregnancy; immunize the mother-to-be against tetanus to protect her and her infant; promote good nutrition, hygiene and rest; and detect potential complications that would make it advisable to give birth in a health facility equipped to handle high-risk deliveries and aftercare.
For example, if the antenatal period is used to inform women and families about the risks of labor and delivery, it may provide the route for ensuring that pregnant women do, in practice, deliver with the assistance of a skilled health care provider. The antenatal period also provides an opportunity to supply information on birth spacing, which is recognized as an important factor in improving infant survival.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum of four antenatal visits. According to WHO guidelines, antenatal care visits should include, at a minimum, the measurement of blood pressure, testing of urine for bacteriuria and proteinuria, and blood tests to detect syphilis and severe anemia.
Prevention and treatment of disease during pregnancy
Tetanus immunization during pregnancy can be life-saving for both the mother and infant. The prevention and treatment of malaria among pregnant women, management of anemia during pregnancy and treatment of STIs can significantly improve fetal outcomes and improve maternal health. Adverse outcomes such as low birthweight can be reduced through a combination of interventions to improve women's nutritional status and prevent infections (e.g. malaria and STIs) during pregnancy.More recently, the potential of the antenatal period as an entry point for HIV prevention and care, in particular for the prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child, has led to renewed interest in access to and use of antenatal services.