Determinants Of Late Initiation Of Antenatal Care Among Women Attending Al-Molak Health Unit And Their Expectation from Family Physician

Antenatal care (ANC) is a preventive obstetric health care program aimed at optimizing maternal- fetal outcome through regular monitoring of pregnancy. It educates the women to recognize and act on appearance of serious symptoms. It leads to early detection and treatment of obstetric emergencies. In addition, ANC is important determinant of utilization of postnatal health care services.In Egypt the percentage of births whose mothers reported receiving any antenatal care raised from 39% in 1995 to 74% in 2008, and the percentage of births whose mothers reported having regular antenatal care (i.e. at least 4 visits) raised from 28% in 1995 to 66% in 2008. Moreover, 79% of deliveries were assisted by medical personnel in 2008 (almost always a doctor), versus only 46% of deliveries in 1995