COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PRACTICES, ATTITUDE AND KNOWLEDGE AMONG ANTENATAL CARE FACILITIES UTILIZING AND NON-UTILIZING WOMEN

Objective: To compare the knowledge, attitude and practices among antenatal care facilities utilizing and no utilizing women, aged 15-49 years. Place and Duration: In the Obstetric and Gynecology department of Services Hospital Lahore for one-year duration from April 2019 to April 2020. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 200 married women aged 15–49 was performed. The knowledge, attitude and practices of women using and not having antenatal care during their previous pregnancy were compared by calculating the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. P values were obtained by performing a chi-square test. Results: Pallor was significantly lower among women receiving antenatal care (57%) compared to those who were not (77.6%), (O.R 0.38 95% CI (0.18-0.81) p-value 0.02). Tetanus toxoid coverage was higher among women receiving antenatal care (92%) compared to those who were not (59.2%), (OR 10.8 95% CI (4.5-26.2). A healthy diet during pregnancy was significantly higher among women receiving antenatal care. Conclusion: A lower incidence of anemia and better range of tetanus toxoid was observed among women attending antenatal care facilities. Identification of warning signals in pregnancy and recognition of pregnancy nutritional requirements are better understood by women using antenatal care Keywords: antenatal care, Tetanus toxoid, anemia, nutritional requirements