Patterns and determinants of maternity care in Damascus

East Mediterr Health J. 2008 May-Jun;14(3):595-604.

Abstract

This descriptive study was designed to describe the patterns and determinants of maternity care among Syrian women living in Damascus. All 39 birth registers in 2 large provinces were used to recruit 500 mothers of healthy newborns. Mothers were interviewed in their homes using a semistructured questionnaire. Multivariate analysis of the determinants of the frequency of use of antenatal care showed the following variables were significant: urban residence and visit to antenatal care in the 1st trimester. The significant variables for an early visit to antenatal care were the woman's level of education; being pregnant with the 1st baby; and number of visits to antenatal care. Being young (age < 20 years) also correlated with early timing of the 1st antenatal visit.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Delivery, Obstetric / methods
  • Delivery, Obstetric / statistics & numerical data
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Health Services Needs and Demand
  • Humans
  • Maternal Age
  • Maternal Health Services / organization & administration*
  • Mothers* / education
  • Mothers* / psychology
  • Mothers* / statistics & numerical data
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Parity
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care* / psychology
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care* / statistics & numerical data
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Care / organization & administration*
  • Residence Characteristics
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Syria
  • Time Factors
  • Urban Health Services / organization & administration*