Association of maternal age with utilization of antenatal care services and knowledge of child development in rural Limpopo, South Africa

By  Nozipho Musakwa  Dr Mhairi Maskew  Lezanie Coetzee  Dr. Aneesa Moolla  Maluleke V  Leshabane P  Roertson A  Mrincowitz G  Zuckerman M  Dr. Denise Evans  |  | 
  • Early pregnancy access to prenatal care is essential.
  • Research has linked a lack of antenatal services to a risk of maternal mortality.
  • Younger women typically share traits such as low socioeconomic position, lack of spousal support, work obligations, and unexpected pregnancies.
  • In South Africa more than a third of births occur in young mothers aged <24 years.
  • The influence of early maternal age and caregiving knowledge on pregnancy, birth, and early childhood outcomes is important.
  • We assessed two key behavioural outcomes for successful maternal care:
  • Uptake and utilization of antenatal services; and
  • Maternal knowledge of childhood development and early childhood developmental caregiving practices

Publication details

PDF