Prenatal Consultations in Cameroon: Qualitative Study of Services and Pregnancy Outcomes from the 28th Week of Amenorrhea in Douala

Introduction: The quality of antenatal consultations (ANC) is defined as the respect and delivery to each pregnant woman of acts which will make it possible to detect certain major risks for which actions are possible, to prevent or detect and manage certain conditions responsible for maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality. Objective: Our objective was to study the effect of the quality of ANC on pregnancy outcomes in Douala. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study with analytical purpose carried out from January 15 to April 15, 2020 in the gynecology-obstetrics department of Laquintinie hospital in Douala. Our target was women who gave birth in this department during our study period and who followed their ANC there or not. These mothers were interviewed using a pre-established questionnaire; their pregnancy monitoring booklet were used and all the data were collected in a structured and pre-tested survey form. A rating (0; 1) was made; we assigned a score of 1 to any procedure followed and 0 to any procedure not followed. The sum of the scores applied to the evaluation scale made it possible to assess the level of quality of prenatal consultations. The data were entered on EPI-INFO version 3.5.4 and the analyzes carried out using Excel 2013 software. The significance threshold was established for a value of p Results: In our study, ANCs were mainly performed by an obstetrician-gynecologist; the rate of births having completed at least 4 to 8 ANC was 46.80%. Generally speaking, no childbirth had benefited from good quality ANC. A delay in ANC in the 2nd trimester as well as a parity > 4 was 5 times more exposed to poor quality ANC; this risk was multiplied by 7 for women over 40 years of age. Poor quality ANC was 3 times associated with prematurity, low birth weight 5 times and neonatal infections 11 times; In contrast, a number of ANC ≥ 8 and those performed by an obstetrician-gynecologist were protective against poor quality ANC. Conclusion: The poor quality of ANC remains a reality in our practice. It exposes significantly to prematurity, low birth weight as well as neonatal infections.