Antenatal and prenatal care practices among pregnant mothers: A population-based cross-sectional study

Objective: To examine several aspects related to antenatal care (ANC) among Saudi mothers including when ANC was initiated, the extent to which public hospitals were utilized for these services, factors influenced by the women’s sociodemographic background, the use of antenatal health care, and the attitudes and practices regarding prenatal vitamins and supplements in pregnant Saudi women. Design: Population-based cross-sectional study. Setting: Saudi Arabia, September 2022 - July 2023. Population: Pregnant Saudi women ( n =1230). Methods: : Data were collected across 11 Ministry of Health (MOH) healthcare facilities. Chi-square tests were employed to analyze associations between variables. Main outcome measures: timing of ANC initiation, beliefs about prenatal vitamins, and the use of folic acid, calcium, and iron during pregnancy. Results: : 14.55% initiated ANC within the first 8 weeks of pregnancy with 88.78% receiving prenatal care during pregnancy, regardless of the timing of ANC initiation. No significant association between beliefs about prenatal vitamins and the timing of ANC contact. The timing of ANC initiation was generally not significantly associated with supplement use, except for calcium supplements, which were slightly more common among those initiating ANC within 8 weeks 57.54%. Conclusions: : This study offers a comprehensive analysis of factors impacting late ANC and inadequate ANC contact among pregnant Saudi women which contribute to the broader understanding of ANC practices and health education programs offered to Saudi women.