Microsoft Word - AMICS-29Jan2013 - Childinfo.org

Percent distribution of women age 15-49 who gave birth in the two years preceding the survey by type of personnel providing
antenatal care, Afghanistan, 2010-2011
Doctor
Person providing antenatal care
Nurse/
Midwife
Auxiliary
midwife
Traditional
birth
attendant
Community
health
worker
No
antenatal
care
received
Total
Any
skilled
personnel 1
Number of
women who
gave birth in
the
preceding
two years
Urban 54.1 19.6 3.4 0.8 0.2 21.7 100 77.1 903
Rural 22.9 16.2 2.1 7.7 0.6 50 100 41.2 3,962
Mother's age at birth
Less than 20 30.5 17.3 1.9 8.2 0.6 41.3 100 49.7 747
20-34 29 16.3 2.4 6.2 0.3 45.1 100 47.8 3,463
35-49 25.3 18.8 2.5 5.3 1.3 46.7 100 46.6 652
Education
None 25.5 16 2.2 7.1 0.6 48.1 100 43.8 4,311
Primary 45.7 26.1 4.3 1.8 0 22 100 76.1 286
Secondary + 62 19.1 2.5 0.9 0 15.2 100 83.6 268
Wealth index quintiles
Poorest 16.7 7.9 1.3 15.9 0.5 57.2 100 25.8 933
Second 18.1 17.6 2 7.8 0.3 53.9 100 37.7 1,029
Middle 22.4 17.2 2.7 4.7 0.6 51.9 100 42.3 993
Fourth 31.6 21.3 3.3 2.6 0.5 39.8 100 56.2 967
Richest 55.9 19.8 2.4 1.3 0.6 20 100 78.1 944
Total 28.7 16.8 2.3 6.4 0.5 44.7 100 47.9 4,865
1
MICS indicator 5.5a; MDG indicator 5.5
Coverage of antenatal care (by a doctor, nurse, or midwife) is low in Afghanistan, with 48% of women
receiving antenatal care at least once during the pregnancy. There is a considerable disparity in antenatal
care services by region. The lowest level of antenatal care is found in the Southern region (31%), while
the highest is found in the Central region (74%). Antenatal care coverage is some 36% higher in urban
areas (77%) compared to rural areas (41%).
The education level of the woman influences the rate of antenatal care. Among women who gave birth
in the last two years, women with secondary education or higher (84%) reported receiving antenatal
care almost twice as often as women with no education (44%). Simultaneously, women living in the
households of the wealthiest quintile (78%) receive antenatal care three times more often than women
in the poorest quintile (26%).
UNICEF and WHO recommend a minimum of at least four antenatal care visits during pregnancy. Table
8.5 shows the number of antenatal care visits during the last pregnancy during the two years preceding
the survey, regardless of the provider, by selected characteristics.
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