By OLUWABUKOLA AKANNI

A Gynaecologist, Dr Femi Olawore, has advised pregnant women on early initiation of antenatal care to reduce complications and maternal deaths.

Olawore gave the advice in Ibadan on Wednesday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

According to him, early initiation of the antenatal care is important to allow early detection, management and prevention of problems that may occur during pregnancy.

“Pregnancy and childbirth are leading causes of death among Nigerian women.

“Antenatal care serves as a key entry point for pregnant women to receive adequate professional healthcare services for themselves and their unborn children.

“Antenatal care is the care provided for the mother during pregnancy to improve the health of the mother and unborn baby.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that antenatal care should start in the first trimester or 12 weeks of gestation,” he said.

Olawore, however, said that many pregnant women in Nigeria placed a low value on antenatal care and had low access to maternal care, with many of them opting to deliver out of healthcare facilities.

“WHO data shows that Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate is 814 per 100,000 live births,” he said. (NAN)