Antenatal screenings and maternal diagnosis among pregnant women in Sao Tome & Principe—Missed opportunities to improve neonatal health: A hospital-based study

Newborn mortality and adverse birth outcomes (ABOs) in Sao Tome & Prı´ncipe (STP) are overwhelmingly high, and access to quality-antenatal care (ANC) is one of the strategies to tackle it. This study aimed to fill the gaps in ANC screenings with a focus on how to improve neonatal outcomes. We conducted a retrospective hospital-based study in which ANC pregnancy cards were reviewed. Screenings were described and compared according to the total number of ANC contacts: 1–3 (inadequate), 4–7 (adequate), and �8 (complete). The collected data were entered into QuickTapSurvey and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Statistical significance was considered at a p-value �0.05. A total of 511 ANC pregnancy cards were reviewed. Mothers’ mean age was 26.6 (SD = 7.1), 51.7% had a first trimester early booking, 14.9% (76) had 1–3 ANC contacts, 46.4% (237) had 4–7 and 38.7% (198) �8. Screening absence was found in 24%-41%, lack of money was registered in 36%. Pregnant women had no screening performed for HIV in 4.5%, syphilis in 8.8%, HBV 39.3%, malaria 25.8%, hemoglobin 24.5%, blood glucose 45.4%, urine 29.7%, stool exams 27.8% and 41.1% had no ultrasound. Screening completion for blood group, HIV,
malaria, urine, hemoglobin, and coproparasitological exam were found to have a statistically significant difference (p