TITLE:
Determinants and Outcomes of Pregnancies among Booked versus Unbooked Patients in a Tertiary Hospital South East, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Chijioke S. Anyigor-Ogah, John O. Egede, Chijioke O. Ogeh, Chika C. Agunanne, Alphosus I. Ozioko, Chinyere C. Duru
KEYWORDS:
Socio-Demographic Characteristics, Booking Status, Antenatal, Delivery
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.14 No.1,
January
31,
2024
ABSTRACT: Background: Inadequate antenatal care, both in coverage and standard, has been
linked with poor pregnancy outcomes. In a resource poor setting, home delivery
is considered very cheap, but the possible outcome of such pregnancies has been
a subject of interest. This study evaluated the association of booking status
with pregnancy outcomes. Objectives: To examine the factors that
influence booking and impact of the booking status on pregnancy outcomes. Methods: This was a hospital-based prospective cohort study of 240 (120 booked and 120
un-booked) pregnant mothers selected through systematic random sampling. The
study was carried out at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Alex
Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Nigeria. Chi-square
test, t-test and logistic regression were used for analysis. Results: The mean age of the participants was 30.39 ± 5.05
years and 29.05 ± 6.36 years respectively for
the booked and unbooked. Marital status (OR = 6.35, 95% CI = 1.24 - 32.59), educational status (OR = 36.40, 95% CI =
5.26-152.83), place of residence (OR = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.06 - 0.41), partner’s support (OR = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.01 - 0.37), family support (OR = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.01 - 0.13), mode of delivery (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.12 - 0.46), APGAR score in first minute (OR = 6.02, 95%
CI = 2.45 - 14.83) and NBICU admission
(OR = 3.75, 95% CI = 1.67 - 8.43) were associated with
booked status. However, being unmarried, nulliparity/grandmultiparity, low
level of education, blue colar jobs, low income, rural dwelling and poor
partner and poor family support were associated with the unbooked. The booked
parturients had a better perinatal outcome compared the unbooked. Conclusion/Recommendation: There was high prevalence of operative deliveries, perinatal morbidity and
mortality among the unbooked mothers. Girl child education, employment and
poverty alleviation would improve antenatal care utilization.