Relationship between Antenatal Care and Pregnancy Outcome among Participants of a Rural Upazilla Health Complex in Bangladesh

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is crucial for monitoring pregnancy and improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the relationship between ANC and pregnancy outcomes among participants at rural upazilla health complex, like Sariakandi Upazilla of Bangladesh. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Upazilla Health Complex in Saniakandi, Bangladesh included 45 pregnant women selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected from medical records and structured interviews to gather information on demographics, obstetric history, clinical history, and specifics of ANC. Maternal outcomes of interest included preeclampsia and postpartum hemorrhage, while neonatal outcomes included gestational age at birth, birth weight, Apgar scores, and NICU admissions. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, and Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to explore the relationship between the number of antenatal visits and pregnancy outcomes. Results: Most participants were aged 21-30 (55.6%) with secondary education (80.0%) and were predominantly housewives (97.8%). Preeclampsia was diagnosed in 6.7% of participants, and postpartum hemorrhage occurred in 2.2%. All cases of preeclampsia and postpartum hemorrhage occurred in women with fewer than 4 antenatal visits, indicating a strong negative correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.82). Neonatal outcomes showed that 2.2% of newborns were preterm, and 17.8% had low birth weight. Higher frequency of ANC visits correlated positively with better Apgar scores at 1 minute (Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.71) and 5 minutes (Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.61). Conclusion: The study highlights the critical role of frequent and timely ANC in improving maternal and neonatal outcomes. Enhanced ANC accessibility and early initiation are essential for reducing the risks of adverse outcomes, particularly in resource-limited settings.