This mixed-methods study explores factors associated with and levels of engagement of fathers in antenatal care. One hundred expectant fathers were recruited from antenatal clinics and community settings in Western Australia. They completed validated questionnaires. Eighty-three percent of expectant fathers reported a lack of engagement with antenatal care. Factors significantly associated with...

BACKGROUND As with many Indigenous peoples, smoking rates among Aboriginal Australians are considerably higher than those of the non-Indigenous population. Approximately 50% of Indigenous women smoke during pregnancy, a time when women are more motivated to quit. Antenatal care providers are potentially important change agents for reducing the harms associated with smoking, yet little is known ...

BACKGROUND Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook, an integrated MCH home-based record, was piloted in four provinces of Vietnam (Dien Bien, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa and An Giang). The study is aimed at assessing the changes in pregnant women's behavior towards the frequencies of their antenatal care service utilizations and their subsequent breastfeeding practices up to six months of age, through...

BACKGROUND Delayed access to antenatal care ('late booking') has been linked to increased maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. The aim of this qualitative study was to understand why some women are late to access antenatal care. METHODS 27 women presenting after 19 completed weeks gestation for their first hospital booking appointment were interviewed, using a semi-structured format, i...

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most serious threats to women’s lives. Therefore, the present study aimed to know the dynamics in the collection of cytologic samples during antenatal care as a method of cervical cancer screening and to identify the factors associated with its performance. Material and Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study carried out with pregnant and postpartum w...

OBJECTIVES Offering antenatal sickle cell and thalassaemia (SCT) screening early in pregnancy can maximize the range of post-screening choices available, however these benefits should not be obtained at the expense of informed choice.  This study examined whether offering this screening in primary care at the time of pregnancy confirmation compromises women making informed choices. Design Parti...