Itinerary and determinants of loss to follow-up of pregnant women at the Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetrics and Paediatric Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Understanding “loss to follow-up” among pregnant women could help improve follow-up in clinical studies and thereby contribute to goals for prevention, treatment or research being achieved. The aim of our study was to trace the itinerary and assess the determinants of loss to follow-up amongst pregnant women at the Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetrics and Paediatric Hospital.

Methods and Materials: We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study from November 6, 2019 to June 2020. We included in our study women who had carried out antenatal care at the Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetrics and Paediatric Hospital. Variables of the study were socio-demographic, clinical and itinerary related of loss to follow-up of pregnant women.

Results: We enrolled 405 women; out of who 239 completed their follow-up and 166 women got lost to follow-up, giving a 41% proportion of loss to follow-up. After leaving the hospital, women attended private hospitals in 47.5% and the main reasons were distance to the hospital (22.3%) and financial barrier (18.2%). The choice of place of childbirth was the private facilities in 55.4%. The determinants of loss to follow-up included age group of [20- 30[years; residing at more than 15 km from the hospital; number of antenatal contacts <4; perception on the cost of pregnancy care as being very expensive.

Conclusion: The proportion of pregnant women lost to follow up was high. Young women between 20 – 30 years, having a past history of curettage, with poor economic resources and who recorded less than four antenatal contacts were prone to interrupt follow up.