A Comparative Study of Fetal and Maternal Outcomes in Registered and Unregistered Antenatal Cases in a Tertiary Care Center

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 16; no. 8; p. e66066
• Main Authors: Gaikwad, Vidya, Bhadoriya, Ayushi, Gaikwad, Suhas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Cureus Inc 03.08.2024; Cureus
• Subjects: Clinical outcomes; Epidemiology/Public Health; Health services utilization; Maternal & child health; Maternal mortality; Medical Education; Obstetrics/Gynecology; Prenatal care; Socioeconomic factors; Womens health; India; maternal and child health; fetomaternal outcome; maternal health; antenatal care; general obstetrics
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.66066
• ISSN: 2168-8184

Background Antenatal care plays a crucial role in ensuring optimal maternal and neonatal health outcomes. However, disparities in access to prenatal care persist, with a subset of pregnant women failing to register for antenatal care, referred to as "unbooked" or "unregistered" pregnancies. This study aims to investigate the impact of registration status on pregnancy outcomes, considering various demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic factors. Understanding the factors influencing registration status and its implications on maternal and fetal health outcomes is essential for developing targeted interventions to improve prenatal care access and enhance overall pregnancy outcomes. Objective To see the difference in obstetrical complications along with feto-maternal outcomes in both registered and unregistered antenatal cases and to determine the correlation of maternal and fetal outcomes with antenatal care. Materials and methods This two-year observational study at Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College's Obstetrics and Gynecology IPD in Pimpri, Pune, examined maternal and fetal outcomes in registered and unregistered pregnancies. Consent was obtained, and patients were categorized as registered and unregistered based on the number of antenatal visits. This was an observational prospective cohort study. Data on socioeconomic factors like income and education were analyzed to assess their association with registration status. Maternal outcomes included preterm delivery and complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, oligohydramnios, premature rupture of membranes, anemia, and postpartum complications. Fetal outcomes included birth weight and NICU admissions. Statistical analyses, including Chi-square tests, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression, were used to examine relationships between variables and registration status. Results This study analyzed 502 cases, comprising 251 registered and 251 unregistered pregnancies, to investigate the impact of antenatal registration on maternal and fetal outcomes. Significant associations were observed between socioeconomic factors, such as lower income and education levels in unregistered pregnancies. Specifically, 46 (18.3%) unregistered cases were in the lowest income bracket, while 103 (41.0%) were in the lower-middle bracket, and the majority (132, 52.2%) had only completed secondary education. Unregistered pregnancies were linked to a higher prevalence of adverse outcomes, including preterm delivery (101, 40.23%), anemia (178, 70.9%), hypertensive disorders (30, 11.9%), gestational diabetes mellitus (16, 6.37%), fetal growth restriction (39, 15.3%), low birth weight (181, 72.1%), and NICU admissions (112, 44.6%), compared to registered pregnancies. Conclusion In conclusion, this study highlights the significant impact of registration status on pregnancy outcomes, emphasizing the need for comprehensive interventions to improve prenatal care access and to promote maternal and neonatal health equity. By addressing socioeconomic barriers and implementing targeted interventions, healthcare systems can strive toward ensuring optimal pregnancy outcomes for all expectant mothers. This is done by ensuring that all antenatal patients are registered for prenatal care by involving a combination of strategies focused on support, education, and accessibility.