Title: The need for prenatal consultations for maternal health
Introduction :
Antenatal consultations are a crucial aspect of maternal health care. Unfortunately, in some areas, such as Mulunguyi village in Nyunzu territory, many pregnant women do not participate in these consultations, which poses risks to their health. In this article, we explore the reasons for this and the vital importance of antenatal consultations to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
Lack of participation in pre-natal consultations:
According to Lambert Mayondo, nurse in Mulunguyi village, many pregnant women avoid pre-natal consultations and prefer to resort to traditional birth attendants when they start to feel the pains of childbirth. This decision can have serious consequences, as traditional birth attendants do not always have the medical knowledge to deal with potential complications of childbirth.
Dangers to maternal health:
By choosing to avoid pre-natal consultations, pregnant women take the risk of compromising their own health as well as that of their baby. Pre-natal consultations help detect and treat possible complications of pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes or infections. Additionally, these consultations provide women with valuable advice and information on nutrition, breastfeeding, prenatal and postnatal care, which contributes to a safer pregnancy and delivery.
Challenges of access to health services:
In addition to the lack of participation in pre-natal consultations, Lambert Mayondo also highlights the challenge of access to health facilities for women in this region. Many women die en route to hospitals due to the distance and lack of adequate health infrastructure. This highlights the need to strengthen health services in rural and remote areas to give women access to necessary medical care.
Conclusion :
Participation in pre-natal consultations is essential to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Pregnant women must understand the importance of these consultations and overcome the obstacles that prevent them from following them, such as geographical distance or cultural beliefs. Governments and health organizations must also take steps to improve the accessibility of maternal health services, to reduce health risks for pregnant women and their babies. Maternal health is a crucial issue that deserves all our attention and efforts.