ANTENATAL HEALTH CARE;

A LITERATURE REVIEW OF ANTENATAL AND POSTNATAL HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Prenatal and postnatal health care utilization services are
imperative strategy to decrease maternal morbidity and mortality. One in 38 Pakistani women
dies from pregnancy related causes as compared to 1 in 230 women in Sri Lanka. Objectives:
The objective of the present study is to know about the pattern and trends of utilization of
antenatal and postnatal health care services by mothers in Pakistan. Study design: Descriptive
systematic literature review. Material and methods: The relevant literature was systematically
searched through different key words related to antenatal and postnatal health care utilization
services in Pakistan through different online research engines to accomplish this study.
Results: Twenty five research articles were included in this review article. It was found that
last two decades, we cannot achieve the optimum progress towards antenatal and postnatal
health care utilization services. The problem is much severe in rural areas of across the country,
where a number of socio-cultural and program factors hinders women to utilize the basic health
services. Mother’s education, household income, autonomous at household decision making
and birth order are the significant factors that to utilize the antenatal and postnatal care in
Pakistan. Conclusion: There should be need to aware the mother about the importance of
prenatal and postnatal visits. In rural areas, government should give some economic incentive
for prenatal and postnatal visits. Furthermore, government should take necessary steps to
tackle the problem by providing the easy access to the health care facilities.