Poor antenatal care and pregnancy outcome.

OBJECTIVES

To characterize women receiving poor antenatal care and assess their perinatal risk.

DESIGN

Computerized data.

SETTING

Public hospital setting Paris (1987-1990). Comparison with representative sample in Ile-de-France region (n = 6423).

METHODS

Poor attenders with less than 3 visits (n = 210) were compared with good attenders with 3 visits or more (n = 5631).

RESULTS

Poor attenders were younger and had higher rates of perinatal mortality (4.7%), preterm delivery (Odds ratio 5.2:4.3-6.3) and low birth weight (Odds ratio 4.6:3.7-5.6).

CONCLUSION

Women with poor antenatal care have a greater risk for adverse pregnancy outcome. This risk cannot be attributed to unfavourable living conditions only.