Quality of Antenatal Care Services in Primary Healthcare Centers in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria: A Cross-sectional Study

INTRODUCTION: Antenatal care (ANC) services enhance access to providing care for pregnant women to prevent complications that could endanger the lives of the mother and unborn baby. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of ANC services in primary healthcare centers (PHCC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among health professionals spanning four of the 48 PHCC and 386 pregnant women who applied to the ANC, based on the geographic area of Abuja Municipal District Council, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria. Independent variables such as sociodemographic and dependent variables such as patient satisfaction was evaluated in this study.
RESULTS: A total of 386 ANC users were included in the study, and 219 (56.7%) of the pregnant women were middle-income. A total of 356 (92.2%) received testing for urinalysis, 359 (93.0%) received blood tests and 187 (48.4%) were provided with deworming drugs. Two hundred ninety-seven (76.9%) were satisfied with services received and 140 (43.6%) attended ANC 3 times or more.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The levels of necessary standard ANC quality in primary healthcare settings have been suboptimal. A need exists for a deepened commitment by the national, state, local, and community governments in Nigeria as well as other partners to ensure that the main components of ANC are received. Health workers in FCT still provide substandard ANC services with reduced satisfaction among users.