Assessment of Prenatal Care Quality and Related Factors after the Implementation of the Family Physician Program in Northwest Iran
Abstract
Background: Prenatal Care (PNC) is a fundamental topic of the family physician program. This study aimed to evaluate the PNC quality and related factors after the Implementation of the Family Physician Program in northwest Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross‑sectional study was conducted among 385 pregnant women visiting four Comprehensive Health Services centers in Tabriz City, in 2019. Samples from each center were selected proportionally to the size of the center over 3 months. Data were collected using a researcher‑made questionnaire on PNC assessment. Poisson regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations. Results: Nearly 95% of participants were homemakers with a mean age of 29.5) 5.74) years, and 60% had planned pregnancies. Participants who visited healthcare providers regularly reported a higher quality of care. The quality of care significantly varied depending on the referral location for receiving care. Lower education levels in mothers, utilization of preconception care, and early referrals to care centers were associated with enhanced care quality (p-value < 0.001). Conclusions: The gap between perceived quality of care and actual standards reveals strong associations between care quality and factors such as regular visits, referral sources, maternal education, preconception care, and timely access to care. It is recommended to implement targeted interventions in these areas to enhance PNC quality.
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