Status of antenatal care in various health care facilities and referral scenario in Sultania Zanana Hospital, Bhopal, and its impact on maternal and fetal outcome

Abstract

Objective : This study was planned to study the referral of patients from inside and outside Bhopal, which are either referred due to lack of skilled staff or facilities for essential and EOC.Methods:This prospective observational study was conducted in 700 consecutive patients who attended Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gandhi Medical College and associated Sultania Zanana Hospital, Bhopal, MP, India, from 1st January 2017 to 30th June 2019.Results: Out of total patients included, majority of referrals were from Districts outside of Bhopal (62.6%) whereas only 37.4% referred patients were from Bhopal Districts. Overall, majority of patients referred belonged to the age group of 21 to 30 years (76.6%) and there was not significant(p value 0.41) correlation between inside and outside referrals. Ambulance facility was utilized by only 13.3% patients referred from inside and 20.5% patients from outside Bhopal and utilization of ambulance services outside of Bhopal District was statistically significant(p<0.05). Conclusion: Maximum referrals reported during third trimester i.e. 58.4% and 79.2% from inside and outside Bhopal respectively and there was statistically significant correlation(p value 0.01) Antenatal care outcome at tertiary health centers can be improved by up-grading health care facilities at various peripheral health care centers.