[The influence of age, place of living, education and number of earlier pregnancies on attendance of pregnant women to screening tests--questionnaire study].

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to assess attendance at the screening programme in pregnancy and the influence of age, number of past pregnancies, level of education and place of residence on the attendance.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Our study was performed on the basis of an anonymous questionnaire handed out 543 women aged 16-45, on the third day of their puerperal, in one of the five obstetric wards in southern Poland. The questionnaire contained questions about participation in recommended for pregnant women screening tests such as: fasting blood glucose level measurement, oral glucose tolerance test, blood type test, measurement of hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies to VDRL, Rubella, Toxoplasma gondii, hepatitis C virus at least once during pregnancy.

RESULTS

The highest attendance rate was related with blood type test, whereas the lowest was related with measurement of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (95.6% vs 22.7%, p < 0.001). A very low percentage of pregnant patients measured Rubella antibodies (29.1%). A larger proportion of the respondents checked antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii (41.6%). The attendance at fasting blood glucose level was 66.9 % and at oral glucose tolerance test was 63.7%. The attendance according as age, place of living, number of past pregnancies and level of education was described in detail.

CONCLUSION

Despite current recommendations of Polish Gynecological Society and the ordinance of polish Minister of Health the percentage of women participating in screening tests during pregnancy is still insufficient. Age, place of residence and education remain strong factors influencing attendance at the screening programme in pregnancy.