Recognition of risk factors in pregnancy among women attending antenatal clinic at Mbagala, Dar es Salaam.

A study on the recognition of risk factors in pregnancy by pregnant women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) at Mbagala, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania was done. 203 women with ages ranging from 15-43 years were seen on their first visit. 32.51% were primigravidas while 67.5% were multiparous with parity varying from 2-13 deliveries. 32.5% had received no formal education; 13.4% had 1-6 years education, while 54.2% had 7-12 years of formal education. Most of the women did not know when in the course of pregnancy they should start ANC: 52% of the women booked and reported that the best gestational age for booking was in the second trimester. There was no definite answer as to why the women came for the 1st visit to the ANC at a particular gestational age. 5% of the women felt that a woman could start to have children between age 10-14 years. 62.1% thought a woman could start to have children between 15-20 years. 10.3% did not know when a woman could start to have children. Some of the risk factors identified at the clinic included: shortness, age below 19 (11.8%), age 35 and more than 4 deliveries (13.3%) and HB below 75%, malaria and hookworm (9.9%). It appears that pregnant women attending Mbagala ANC booked within the second and third trimester. Their knowledge regarding risk factors in pregnancy was very low. A comprehensive antenatal intervention programme should be introduced at Mbagala ANC to educate women on risk factors in pregnancy. It should be conducted through client oriented problem and need approach.