114 Experiences of and perspectives on timely initiation and uptake of antenatal care among an ethnically diverse maternal cohort

School of Society Community and Health
,
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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Abstract

Aim Antenatal care plays an important role in preventing adverse maternal?and new-born outcomes. The United Kingdom (UK)?clinical?guidelines recommend that women attend their first antenatal appointment by 10 weeks of pregnancy. Women from ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to initiate antenatal care later than the recommended 10 weeks, compared to white British women. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of timely initiation and uptake of antenatal care among mothers from ethnically diverse areas in East of England, UK who initiated antenatal care after 10 weeks. Methods We conducted in-depth qualitative semi-structured interviews with 20 expectant or recent mothers in ethnically diverse areas who started care after 10 weeks. Mothers were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling, through a number of channels including local networks and online advertisements. Interviews lasted approximately one hour and were conducted in-person, over the phone or online based on participants’ preferences. Data were analysed using a thematic framework guided by Levesque Conceptual Framework. Results Three key themes emerged: 1.experiences of and perceptions about antenatal care appointments; 2.factors hindering timely initiation of antenatal care; and 3.strategies to enhance antenatal care uptake. Women felt dissatisfied with limited engagement during appointments and suggested that seeing the same midwife could improve trust and confidence. Delays were linked to low awareness and insufficient information on scheduling, as well as employment and childcare constraints. Participants recommended simplified health information about care pathways, appointment reminders, and multilingual resources to improve access. Conclusion Key barriers and delays in antenatal care appointments highlight the need for targeted interventions, including provision of simplified health information and culturally inclusive resources. Findings highlight?the need for addressing systemic challenges through culturally sensitive community based approaches to enhance timely uptake of antenatal care among women from ethnically diverse areas.