Abstract:

Labour and delivery is the end of pregnancy and beginning of new life. Antenatal care plays an important role to achieve a successful labour and delivery process. Regular antenatal classes help in the physical and mental preparation of women and help them relax during those last months. Antenatal care ensures maternal fetal health wellbeing and also prepares women physically fit for labour, delivery and the postpartum period.¹

Nighty four percent of women access antenatal services in Swaziland at least once and seventy one percent of pregnant women deliver in health facility. ii A majority of the country’s population is young. According to Swaziland’s latest census report (2007), 52% of the 1.1 million people are under the age of 20 and those aged 10 –24 years constitute 37% of the population (39% male and 36% female)². In addition, adolescents comprise of 37% of the country’s population among which 25% of 33, 000 deliveries areadolescents. 27% of antenatal care (ANC) clients who live with HIV areadolescents³.

Maternal mortality is still high in Swaziland where we lose a significant number pregnant women, it accounts to 320/100 000 live births.⁴ Female adolescents account for a significant proportion of maternal deaths, which are largely due to preventable causes like malnutrition, infections and hemorrhage coupled with inadequate health care negligence and supportive services, particularly in the rural areas. Unsafe abortions contribute significantly to maternal morbidity and mortality among adolescents.

The Ministry of health through the Sexual and Reproductive Health Unit has adopted

References:

[1.] Central Statistical Office. Swaziland Population and Housing Census, Mbabane, Swaziland. 2007.

[2.] http://drsimran.expertscolumn.com/article/why-antenatal-care-important-during-pregnancy. Abstracted October 15, 2015 at 08.10hrs.

[3.] http://www.indexmundi.com/swaziland/maternal_mortality_rate.html. Abstracted October 15, 2015 at 08.18 Hrs.

[4.] Swaziland. Ministry of Health. National Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Strategic Plan 2014 – 2018. Mbabane. 2015, p10-11.

[5.] Swaziland. Ministry of Health. 11th National HIV sero-surveillance among women attending antenatal care services. Mbabane: Printpak. 2010