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Using the most recent (2007-16) Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys in 91 low middle income countries (LMICs), the authors described antenatal care quality based on receipt of three essential services (blood pressure monitoring and urine and blood testing) among women who had at least one visit with a skilled antenatal-care provider. FIndings suggest that many LMICs that have reached high levels of antenatal care coverage had much lower and inequitable levels of quality. Achieving ambitious maternal, newborn, and child health goals will require greater focus on the quality of health services and their equitable distribution. Equity in effective coverage should be used as the new metric to monitor progress towards universal health coverage.
References
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Kruk ME, Gage AD, Arsenault C. High-quality health systems in the Sustainable Development Goals era: time for a revolution. Lancet Glob Health. 2018 doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30386-3. published online Sept 6
WHO . World Health Organization; Geneva: 2016. WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience.