Effect of a new antenatal care programme on the attitudes of pregnant women and midwives towards antenatal care in Harare

Abstract

Health providers have 'only recently been paying attention to the attitudes of women towards antenatal care programmes. Previously, the benefits of antenatal care (ANC) were considered so self evident that the consumers could not question how the services were delivered. However, the success of any ANC programme depends to a greater or lesser degree on the co-operation of the women. One of the aims of increased satisfaction with ANC is to achieve better compliance with the advice given, which may lead to improved pregnancy outcome. Satisfaction with the services, rather than the mere improvement of pregnancy outcome is also: now considered a goal in its own right.