Research Article: Factors Influencing the Antenatal Care Attendance of Pregnant Women During the First COVID- Wave Lockdown in Thailand
Abstract:
The coronavirus disease (COVID-) pandemic has affected numerous countries worldwide, including Thailand. In Thailand, the pandemic started on December , when a Chinese woman travelling from China was found to be infected with the disease. This case was the first to be detected outside the Chinese territory. Cumulative cases of COVID- have rapidly increased and spread out in many provinces. Currently, the country is on the third COVID- wave. By March , the statistics of the Centre for Disease Control reported that COVID- had affected , people. In this study, data collection began during the early stages of the pandemic (lockdown) wherein the health service provisions, such as emergency–chronic outpatient services and antenatal care (ANC), were not yet modified to provide care systematically. In , the total number of Thai pregnant women was around ,. Based on the statistics from the World Bank, the rate of pregnant women receiving prenatal care tended to increase slightly since and with percentages being . and ., respectively. Thai ANC guidelines recommend pregnant women attending ANC before gestational ages. In nd to rd trimester of gestation, obstetricians should schedule ANC at , , , , , and weeks. Pregnant women will receive the following benefits: ultrasounds, toxoids, medical care screenings (ABO typing, thalassemia, Down’s syndrome and sexually transmitted disease), vitamin supplements, mental health and dental care and health education programmes (nutrition, exercise, sexual intercourse, fetal movement counting and breastfeeding).
Introduction:
The coronavirus disease (COVID-) pandemic has affected numerous countries worldwide, including Thailand. In Thailand, the pandemic started on December , when a Chinese woman travelling from China was found to be infected with the disease. This case was the first to be detected outside the Chinese territory. Cumulative cases of COVID- have rapidly increased and spread out in many provinces. Currently, the country is on the third COVID- wave. By March , the statistics of the Centre for Disease Control reported that…
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