Factors influencing gestational age at antenatal booking at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

In order to achieve the aim of improved outcome of pregnancy for mother and fetus, early booking (first antenatal visit), prior to 14 weeks' gestation is usually recommended. A survey of information on personal data, index pregnancy, reasons for booking at a particular gestational age, past obstetric history and medical history of 205 pregnant women attending the antenatal booking clinic at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria was carried out using a structured questionnaire. The mean gestational age at booking was 21.82 (± 7.0) weeks. Only 29 patients (14.1%) booked before 14 weeks. The reasons given for early booking among them were the perceived benefits of such practice (41.4%), physician's recommendation (34.5%) and occurrence of complication(s) in previous pregnancy (24.1%). Illness in the index pregnancy and nulliparity were the only factors found to significantly favour early booking. The need to educate women of the reproductive age group, who are potential mothers, on the benefits of early booking was recommended. © 2006 Taylor & Francis.