Abstract:
Early antenatal care attendance is one of the interventions aimed at improving
maternal and perinatal health outcomes. During this period and visits women are
screened to identify complications associated with their pregnancy and to determine
the level of care needed. However, there are still institutions where even if urine tests
for Gravindex can be positive as early as 8 weeks but they are not initiating antenatal
care on the same day of the test. The study’s aim was to determine the perceptions
of midwives on initiation of early antenatal care after a positive Gravindex test. The
qualitative explorative, descriptive, and contextual design was applied. The study
population comprised of midwives working at Tshino-Mutsha Local area. Nonprobability,
particularly purposive sampling was used to select about four clinics
(Tshakhuma, Ha-Mutsha, Tshino and Manavhela), twenty participants were expected
to be the sample size (five participants per clinic). However, the sample size was
determined by data saturation which was reached at participant number 15. Face-toface
in-depth interviews were conducted using open-ended questions. An interview
guide was used during the interviews to help the researcher to stay focused. Data
analysis was done using thematic analysis to identify themes and sub-themes. Ethical
principles were adhered to during the process of the whole study. The study findings
revealed that there are paradoxical challenges experienced by midwives related to
the provision of early antenatal care services such as lack of human resources and
materials. It is recommended that the Department of Health in Limpopo Province
should strengthen early antenatal booking services through adequate provision of
materials and employing more midwives.
