AT least four antenatal visits is the advice from the World Health Organization to determine the best outlook for pregnant women. It comes against the background of monitoring the health of the woman and the progress of her pregnancy, allowing for medical interventions if necessary. One visit is recommended by doctors in the first three months (known as a trimester), another in the sixth month, and two more in the seventh and ninth months.

These four antenatal visits will include blood tests, blood pressure and urine testing, weight, and height measurements. Though it may sound routine, like any other doctor’s visit, the medical personnel will be looking for specifics – monitoring for anaemia; sexually transmitted infections; and the size, growth, and positioning of the baby in the uterus.

Data from the ‘Reproductive Health Survey Jamaica, 2021’ shows that attendance at antenatal care was 98.7 per cent for 2016-2021 locally, with more than three-quarters of the women visiting government-operated clinics.

The survey outlines that 51.8 per cent of women have ever had a gynaecological exam, a marked improvement over previous years. The benefits of the examination include the early detection of asymptomatic pelvic inflammatory disease, screening for breast and ovarian cancer, ovarian cysts, and sexually transmitted infections.

The data also showed that marginal improvements have been seen with Pap smears, with two out of every three women (67.2 per cent) having had a Pap smear. For breast checks, 70 per cent of female respondents 15 to 49 years had ever performed a breast self-exam, bettering the previous survey numbers.

Successful sexual and reproductive health outcomes are dependent on the ability to identify changes in the body, respond with initiative-taking steps to have them assessed, effective client-doctor communication, and follow through with the established treatment recommendations.

Dianne Thomas is the director, communication and public relations at the National Family Planning Board.