Abstract:
Background: The high rate of antenatal care attendance in sub-Saharan Africa, should facilitate provision of
information on signs of potential pregnancy complications. The aim of this study was to assess quality of antenatal care
with respect to providers' counselling of pregnancy danger signs in Rufiji district, Tanzania.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 18 primary health facilities. Thirty two providers were observed
providing antenatal care to 438 pregnant women. Information on counselling on pregnancy danger signs was
collected by an observer. Exit interviews were conducted to 435 women.
Results: One hundred and eighty five (42%) clients were not informed of any pregnancy danger signs. The most
common pregnancy danger sign informed on was vaginal bleeding 50% followed by severe headache/blurred vision
45%. Nurse auxiliaries were three times more likely to inform a client of a danger sign than registered/enrolled nurses
(OR = 3.7; 95% CI: 2.1-6.5) and Maternal Child Health Aides (OR = 2.3: 95% CI: 1.3-4.3) and public health nurses (OR = 2.5;
CI: 1.4-4.2) were two times more likely to provide information on danger signs than registered/enrolled nurses. The
clients recalled less than half of the pregnancy danger signs they had been informed during the interaction.
Conclusion: Two out of five clients were not counselled on pregnancy danger signs. The higher trained cadre,
registered/enrolled nurses were not informing majority of clients pregnancy danger signs compared to the lower
cadres. Supportive supervision should be made to enhance counselling of pregnancy danger signs. Nurse auxiliaries
should be encouraged and given chance for further training and upgrading to improve their performance and
increase human resource for health.
