Training in preconception care focused on primary health care providers: Effects on preconception care knowledge and provision.

Objective: To assess the effect of a rapid training intervention on the knowledge of health providers and the provision of preconception care in primary health care services. Methods: Randomized community trial in eight primary health care facilities (four were randomly allocated to the intervention group and four to the control group) in 2020 in Brazil. The intervention consisted of rapid training in preconception health for all health providers in the intervention group. Health providers who had medicine and nursing backgrounds answered structured questionnaires about their knowledge and practices of preconception health-related topics, and reproductive-age women attending the services completed a questionnaire about their experience with preconception care in pre- and postintervention (three months after the intervention) periods. Findings: The level of knowledge among health providers increased after the intervention, but providing information about preconception care and prescribing folic acid showed no significant change, with the exception of screening for future pregnancy intention. Key conclusions and implications for practice: Although the knowledge of health providers on preconception care is a fundamental requirement for its provision in primary health care settings, rapid training focused on preconception health topics was not sufficient to change their practices, with the exception of pregnancy intention screening, which experienced a slight increase after the training. It appears that additional elements, such as the reorganization of primary health care services to prioritize non-pregnant women, the development and implementation of specific guidelines, along with strategies for the dissemination of preconception care awareness, may also play crucial roles for full preconception care implementation in addition to health providers' knowledge of such issues.

Assessment of the quality of antenatal care in Mozambique.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of antenatal care and its covariates among postpartum women in Mozambique. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The study was undertaken either at the maternity hospital or at home, in Mozambique, in 2019. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 393 women aged 18 to 49 years were interviewed immediately after giving birth. MEASUREMENTS: The quality of antenatal care was analysed based on the guidelines of the Ministry of Health of Mozambique: antenatal appointment in the first 16 weeks of gestation, 4 or more antenatal appointments, at least one laboratory test, at least 4 or more clinical-obstetric procedures, 3 doses of the prophylactic intermittent treatment for malaria, 2 doses of the tetanus vaccine, and counselling related to general health care. Women who reported all of these situations were classified as having had quality antenatal care. FINDINGS: All women reported at least one antenatal care visit, but only 13.0% were classified as having had quality antenatal care. Women who underwent antenatal care in previous pregnancies (aOR=4,28; 95% CI=1,45-12,62) and whose current pregnancy was planned (aOR=2,51; 95% CI=1,11-5,68) were more likely to have quality antenatal care than those who had never had access to antenatal care in previous pregnancies and those who currently had an unplanned pregnancy. It was observed that the criteria recommended by the Ministry of Health were not followed during antenatal care, especially regarding the gestational age at the beginning of antenatal care, the minimum number of consultations, performing blood tests (complete blood count, blood glucose, blood typing and Rh factor) and guidance on signs of risk in pregnancy and childbirth. KEY CONCLUSIONS: In general, the criteria recommended for quality antenatal care are not incorporated into clinical practice in Mozambique. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: While quality antenatal care is essential to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, many sub-Saharan countries still have low-quality antenatal care services, which is one of the reasons why these countries have the highest maternal mortality rates worldwide.

Antenatal care in Mozambique: Number of visits and gestational age at the beginning of antenatal care.

OBJECTIVE: 1)to assess the gestational age at the beginning of antenatal care and its covariates; 2)to assess the number of antenatal visits and its covariates; and 3)to identify the reasons for the late initiation of antenatal care and for attending less than four visits among postpartum women living in Nampula, Mozambique. METHOD: cross-sectional study conducted with 393 mothers who answered a structured instrument in face-to-face interviews. Logistic regression was used to analyze the covariates of having initiated antenatal care up to the 16thgestational week, having attended four or more antenatal visits, and reporting both situations simultaneously. RESULTS: all postpartum women underwent antenatal care, but only 39.9% started it until the 16thgestational week, 49.1% attended four or more visits, and 34.1% reported both events. Having concluded high school (ORadj=1.99; 95%CI=1.19-3.31) or college (ORadj=3.87; 95%CI=1.47-10.18) were aspects associated with reporting both situations. The reasons for the late initiation of antenatal care and attending less than four visits were as follows: not finding it important to attend several visits, not having easy access to the health facility, not being aware about pregnancy, and not having a companion for the visits. CONCLUSION: the gestational age at the beginning of antenatal care and the number of antenatal visits are lower than the current recommendations in the country.

Antenatal care in Mozambique: Number of visits and gestational age at the beginning of antenatal care / Atención prenatal en Mozambique: número de consultas y edad gestacional al inicio del control prenatal / Assistência ao pré-natal em Moçambique: número de consultas e idade gestacional no início do pré-natal

Objective: 1)to assess the gestational age at the beginning of antenatal care and its covariates; 2)to assess the number of antenatal visits and its covariates; and 3)to identify the reasons for the late initiation of antenatal care and for attending less than four visits among postpartum women living in Nampula, Mozambique. Method: cross-sectional study conducted with 393 mothers who answered a structured instrument in face-to-face interviews. Logistic regression was used to analyze the covariates of having initiated antenatal care up to the 16thgestational week, having attended four or more antenatal visits, and reporting both situations simultaneously. Results: all postpartum women underwent antenatal care, but only 39.9% started it until the 16thgestational week, 49.1% attended four or more visits, and 34.1% reported both events. Having concluded high school (ORadj=1.99; 95%CI=1.19-3.31) or college (ORadj=3.87; 95%CI=1.47-10.18) were aspects associated with reporting both situations. The reasons for the late initiation of antenatal care and attending less than four visits were as follows: not finding it important to attend several visits, not having easy access to the health facility, not being aware about pregnancy, and not having a companion for the visits. Conclusion: the gestational age at the beginning of antenatal care and the number of antenatal visits are lower than the current recommendations in the country.

Objetivo: 1) analizar la edad gestacional al inicio del control prenatal y aspectos asociados; 2) analizar el número de consultas realizadas y aspectos asociados; y 3) identificar las razones del inicio tardío del control prenatal y de la realización de menos de cuatro consultas por parte de las mujeres posparto que residen en Nampula, Mozambique. Método: estudio transversal con 393 puérperas, que respondieron a un instrumento estructurado en entrevistas presenciales. Se utilizó regresión logística para analizar aspectos asociados a haber iniciado el control prenatal como máximo en la semana 16 de gestación, haber asistido a cuatro o más consultas prenatales y reportar ambas situaciones simultáneamente. Resultados: todas las puérperas realizaron el control prenatal, pero solo el 39,9% lo inició como máximo en la semana 16 de gestación; el 49,1% realizó cuatro o más consultas y el 34,1% informó ambos eventos. La educación secundaria (ORaj=1,99; IC95%=1,19-3,31) o la educación superior (ORaj=3,87; IC95% 1,47-10,18) fueron aspectos asociados al informe de ambas situaciones. Las razones del inicio tardío del control prenatal y de la realización de menos de cuatro consultas fueron: no considerar que fuera importante realizar varias consultas, no tener fácil acceso al centro de salud, no saber que estaba embarazada y no tener acompañante para las consultas. Conclusión: la edad gestacional para iniciar el control prenatal y el número de consultas realizadas son inferiores a las recomendaciones vigentes en el país.

Objetivo: 1) analisar a idade gestacional de início do pré-natal e aspectos associados; 2) analisar o número de consultas realizadas e aspectos associados; e 3) identificar as razões para o início tardio do pré-natal e para a realização de menos de quatro consultas entre puérperas residentes em Nampula, Moçambique. Método: estudo transversal com 393 puérperas, que responderam a um instrumento estruturado em entrevistas face a face. Utilizou-se regressão logística para analisar aspectos associados a ter iniciado o pré-natal até 16ª semana de gestação, ter realizado quatro ou mais consultas de pré-natal e relatar as duas situações simultaneamente. Resultados: todas as puérperas realizaram pré-natal, mas apenas 39,9% iniciaram pré-natal até a 16ª semana de gravidez; 49,1% realizaram quatro ou mais consultas e 34,1% relataram ambos eventos. O ensino secundário (ORaj=1,99; IC95%=1,19-3,31;) ou superior (ORaj=3,87; IC95% 1,47-10,18) foram aspectos associados a reportar ambas situações. As razões para início tardio do pré-natal e realização de menos de quatro consultas foram: não achar importante realizar várias consultas, não ter fácil acesso ao centro de saúde, não saber que estava grávida e não ter acompanhante para as consultas. Conclusão: a idade gestacional de início do pré-natal e o número de consultas realizadas são inferiores às recomendações vigentes no país.