Author(s)

Chijioke S. Anyigor-Ogah¹, John O. Egede^2*, Chijioke O. Ogeh³, Chika C. Agunanne¹, Alphosus I. Ozioko¹, Chinyere C. Duru²

¹Department of Family Medicine, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
³Department of Paediatrics, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Background: Inadequate antenatal care, both in coverage and standard, has been linked with poor pregnancy outcomes. In a resource poor setting, home delivery is considered very cheap, but the possible outcome of such pregnancies has been a subject of interest. This study evaluated the association of booking status with pregnancy outcomes. Objectives: To examine the factors that influence booking and impact of the booking status on pregnancy outcomes. Methods: This was a hospital-based prospective cohort study of 240 (120 booked and 120 un-booked) pregnant mothers selected through systematic random sampling. The study was carried out at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Nigeria. Chi-square test, t-test and logistic regression were used for analysis. Results: The mean age of the participants was 30.39 ± 5.05 years and 29.05 ± 6.36 years respectively for the booked and unbooked. Marital status (OR = 6.35, 95% CI = 1.24 - 32.59), educational status (OR = 36.40, 95% CI = 5.26-152.83), place of residence (OR = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.06 - 0.41), partner’s support (OR = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.01 - 0.37), family support (OR = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.01 - 0.13), mode of delivery (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.12 - 0.46), APGAR score in first minute (OR = 6.02, 95% CI = 2.45 - 14.83) and NBICU admission (OR = 3.75, 95% CI = 1.67 - 8.43) were associated with booked status. However, being unmarried, nulliparity/grandmultiparity, low level of education, blue colar jobs, low income, rural dwelling and poor partner and poor family support were associated with the unbooked. The booked parturients had a better perinatal outcome compared the unbooked. Conclusion/Recommendation: There was high prevalence of operative deliveries, perinatal morbidity and mortality among the unbooked mothers. Girl child education, employment and poverty alleviation would improve antenatal care utilization.

Socio-Demographic Characteristics, Booking Status, Antenatal, Delivery

Anyigor-Ogah, C.S., Egede, J.O., Ogeh, C.O., Agunanne, C.C., Ozioko, A.I. and Duru, C.C. (2024) Determinants and Outcomes of Pregnancies among Booked versus Unbooked Patients in a Tertiary Hospital South East, Nigeria. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 14, 144-161. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojog.2024.141014