Antenatal Care in General Practice in Sweden: I. A Descriptive Study of Problems, Measures and Outcome in a Defined Population

Abstract

This study followed the progress of 143 expectant mothers from their registration at the antenatal clinic, via delivery, to the postnatal check-up. The population was an all-inclusive material from a well-defined geographical area. All problems arising and their treatment or other measures were recorded at the district antenatal clinic, at the district Health Centre, at the hospital antenatal clinic, and at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Common problems were backache and abdominal pain, infections in the vagina or in the urinary tract, and threat of miscarriage or premature birth. About 40% of the women had received at least one medical prescription during pregnancy, and a similar proportion were sicklisted at some time. The outcome of delivery in this material was comparable to figures for Sweden in general and to results reported from Great Britain.

Key Words:

• prenatal care
• pregnancy complications
• primary health care