[Study on the Related Factors of Prenatal Health Care Among Floating Women in Five Cities of China]

Objective: To understand the current status of prenatal health care (PHC) and its related factors for floating women of childbearing age, and to provide evidence for improving the quality of PHC at childbearing age.

Methods: With data from the reproductive health survey on floating population in five cities, Beijing, Nanjing, Xiamen, Shenzhen and Chongqing, in 2005, the distributions of PHC among floating women were described. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to investigate the factors related to the utilization of PHC.

Results: In 5 399 cases of valid questionnaires, 4 037 floating women who had the history of pregnant, cases who had or did not have PHC services would account for 75.3% (3 041/4 037) and 24.7% (996/4 037), respectively. The initial time of using the PHC service was significantly associated with the level of their education (P < 0.05) received. Data from the multivariate logistic regression analysis in PHC showed that there were differences between regions (P < 0.05). Proportions of women receiving PHC among those under 30 years and 30-39 were 4.09-folds (95% CI:3.11-5.39) and 1.98-folds (95% CI:1.61-2.43), respectively, when compared with that of women over 40-year-old. The proportion of women having received PHC with education levels of senior high school and above or junior high school, were 5.47-folds (95%CI:3.85-7.77) and 2.86-folds (95%CI:2.42-3.39) respectively, compared to that of women with education level of primary school or below. The proportion of married women having PHC was 2.36-folds (95%CI:1.07-5.22) of those unmarried women. The proportions of having PHC of women with one parity and two parities or with family planning certificate were 3.36-fold (95%CI: 2.33-4.84) and 1.61-fold (95% CI:1.12-2.30), 1.44-folds (95% CI:1.21-1.71) respectively, when compared with those women with three parities or without the certificate.

Conclusion: Factors as having received higher education, being married, with less parities or having family planning certificate etc. showed protective effects on PHC for floating women of childbearing age. Based on PHC, education should be promoted among the floating women of childbearing age, which would contribute to the prevention and reduction of adverse outcomes related to reproductive health.