Zambia Demographic and Health Survey 2001-2002 - Measure DHS

Expectant mothers should beginantenatal attendance as early as possible inthe first trimester. Monthly antenatal visitsare recommended up to the seventh month ofpregnancy, after which visits every twoweeks are recommended up to the eighthmonth when the visits should be weekly untildelivery. About half of Zambian womenreport visiting antenatal clinics at least fourtimes during pregnancy. Half the women paytheir first antenatal visit between four andfive months of pregnancy followed by27 percent who visit between six and sevenmonths. Only 14 percent of the respondentsbegin their antenatal attendance in the firsttrimester of pregnancy. The median numberof months of pregnancy at first visit is 5.3 forboth urban and rural residents.Overall, there has been little changein the pattern of antenatal attendance by gestationalage over the last decade. The mediangestational age at first visit was 5.6 monthsin 1992 and 1996, and dropped slightly to 5.3months in 2001-2002. This calls for programmeinterventions that will encouragewomen to attend antenatal clinics in the firsttrimester of pregnancy.Components of antenatal careTable 9.2 Number of antenatal care visits and timing of first visitPercent distribution of women who had a live birth in the fiveyears preceding the survey by number of antenatal care (ANC)visits for the most recent birth, and by the timing of the first visit,according to residence, Zambia 2001-2002––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––ResidenceNumber and timing ––––––––––––––––of ANC visits Urban Rural Total––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Number of ANC visitsNone 1.9 5.2 4.11 1.2 2.4 2.02-3 14.6 22.5 19.84+ 79.6 67.5 71.6Don't know/missing 2.7 2.3 2.5Total 100.0 100.0 100.0Number of months pregnantat time of first ANC visitNo antenatal care 1.9 5.2 4.1