RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The role of antenatal care in ensuring improved pregnancy outcome is no longer in doubt. Ensuring early booking for antenatal care can optimize this benefit. OBJECTIVE: To determine the gestational age at first antenatal attendance in pregnant women at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). METHOD: A cross-sectional study of all pregnant women that booked at the antenatal clinic in LUTH from November 2005 to June 2006 was undertaken to determine the gestational age at booking. RESULTS: The mean age of the women was 30.5 +/- 4.5years (range 18-46years) and the mean gestational age at first antenatal visit for the study was 19.1 +/- 7.8 weeks (range 6 to 40 weeks). While the nulliparous and primiparous women booked earlier (mean 18.5 +/- 8.3 and 18.4 +/- 7.4 weeks respectively), those with parity 5 booked much later, mean 25.9 + 8.6 weeks and this was significant statistically (p < 0.0002). Only 317 (27%) had booked as at 13 weeks, the end of first trimester while the majority 647 (55.2%) booked in the second trimester (14 to 26 weeks gestation). 70 women (6%) had their first antenatal visit at > or = 34 weeks while 22 (1.9%) first booked at 1 37 weeks gestation. However, 3 women (0.3%) booked at 40 weeks gestation. Majority of the women belonged to social class 3 (496; 42.3%) with majority of their partners also in social class 3 (490; 41.8%). However women in social class 1 and those whose partner belong to social class 1 booked earlier than the other social classes and this also was statistically significant (p < 0.0008). CONCLUSION: Nulliparous and primiparous women as well as women in social class 1 and those whose partners are in social class 1 tend to book earlier for antenatal care services. Aggressive and extensive health education on the benefit of antenatal care and the need for early booking in the first trimester is advocated. The hospital may need to review the cost of antenatal care and delivery as well as improve on the whole service package.