Factors predicting the initiation of prenatal care in Mexican women

Objective: to describe factors related to the initiation of prenatal care (PNC) among pregnant Mexican women. Design: descriptive correlational. Setting: public prenatal clinic in Monterrey, Mexico. Participants: 253 pregnant Mexican women aged 13-46 years. Measurements and findings: structured interviews were conducted to obtain information concerning demographics, reproductive history, current pregnancy, perceptions of benefits and barriers of PNC, negative attitudes towards pregnancy and social support. Late initiation of PNC was reported by 47% of participants. Factors related to PNC initiation were education, perceived benefits or barriers, and negative attitudes towards pregnancy. Women who initiated PNC at an early stage were more likely to live with a partner, had a higher educational level and anticipated desirable personal benefits of PNC. Perceptions of barriers to PNC impeded early initiation of care. Social support did not influence PNC initiation. Negative attitudes towards pregnancy increased the likelihood of late PNC initiation. Key conclusions and implications for practice: screening for negative attitudes towards pregnancy, partner status, educational level and perceived health-care barriers among pregnant Mexican women is important. Health-care providers may then address these psychosocial risk factors through PNC interventions promoting early initiation of care.