Antenatal Care: Its Barriers in the South African Context

Antenatal Care: Its Barriers in The South African Context

Introduction

Antenatal care, which is administered during a women’s gestation period, is a fundamental aspect of the prevention of maternal and neonatal death. It enables health problems and possible complications that may arise during pregnancy to be detected and prevented or treated, and it provides a greater possibility of an assisted and facilitated labour (Struggle for Maternal Health, 2014).

The need for antenatal care has become extremely crucial within the South African context due to the recorded increase in maternal mortality. The primary cause of maternal death has been recognised as HIV/AIDS, however, The World Health Organization regards most maternal deaths, including those of individuals who were HIV positive, as preventable through antenatal care (Tlebere et al., 2007).

Complete antenatal care has been available to South African women, free of charge, since 1994, yet the quality of the provided care remains limited as multitudes of women book for their care late or only attend once (Myer & Harrison, 2003). According to Abrahams, Jewkes and Mvo (2001) there is an association between the late attendance which many women resort to and health care, social and educational factors. Therefore this report analyzes these factors and the obstacles they cause within antenatal care in a South African context.

Health Care: Resources, Patient-Nurse Relations, Patient Confidentiality and Service Delivery

Lack of health care facilities, which include intensive care facilities, laboratory facilities, accessibility to and availability of medication, are typical administrative errors, especially common in rural and low to middle income urban communities, where high patient volumes are experienced. This has become a great concern within public health systems as these limitations lead to constrained health care (Myer & Harrison, 2003).

According to Struggle for Maternal Health (2014) the lack...