Level and Barriers to Utilization of Preconception Care Services by High-risk Pregnant Women Seen at Antenatal Clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital From January 2023 to March 2023

Abstract

Introduction: A high-risk pregnancy is one that threatens the wellbeing or life of a pregnant mother, the fetus or both hence predisposing to poor pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. Medical conditions that are high-risk for pregnancies include: hypertensive diseases, diabetes, cardiac diseases, sickle cell diseases, HIV/AIDS, thyroid disease, autoimmune disease (e.g., SLE), kidney disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, teenage pregnancy, first time pregnancy after 35 years, and lifestyle factors (alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse). PCC is provision of biomedical, social or behavioral interventions to women and couples of reproductive ages before conception occurs in order to improve maternal, perinatal and child’s outcome. In order to decrease maternal and perinatal mortality rate, preconception care services are key. There are guidelines in the ministry of health to improve perinatal care which includes PCC care which have not been well implemented. Moreover, there is paucity of data on the level of utilization of preconception care services in Kenya and the barriers to utilization of these services. Findings from this research will inform policy makers to understand the level of utilization of pre-pregnancy care and their associated barriers. Generated data will help in policy making to help in optimal utilization of PCC in Kenya. Objective: To determine the level of utilization of PCC and the barriers to utilization of these services by high-risk pregnant women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) at KNH between January 2023 to March 2023. Methodology: Analytical cross-sectional study. The study population was high-risk pregnant women seen at the KNH ANC clinic. Patients were grouped according to their exposure status (exposed and non-exposed). Exposed to mean those who did not receive preconception care (PCC) services and the non-exposed to mean those who received PCC services. A total sample size of 338 participants with a diagnosis of high-risk pregnancy were recruited...