Inadequate antenatal care in women attending tertiary care hospital for delivery: Causes and consequences

Aim: To study the various causes of inadequate antenatal care in pregnant females and to evaluate the effect of inadequate antenatal care on delivery outcome.Methods: This was a case control study in which 220 women with inadequate antenatal care and 1780 women with adequate care presenting to the Department of obstetrics and gynecology, LNJP hospital, MAMC, New Delhi were evaluated in the immediate postpartum period with the help of a questionnaire to evaluate patient related factors and quality of care issues in inadequate antenatal care. The study was conducted from July 2011 to July 2012.Results: In the 220 women with inadequate antenatal care, patient related factors were responsible in 92.1% cases and in 7.9% there was deficiency in the quality of antenatal care they received. Fifty five (24.09%) women in the inadequate antenatal care had no knowledge about any component of antenatal care. Rate of maternal complications like eclampsia (p