Afghanistan Mortality Survey 2010 - Measure DHS

4.1.3 Problems with Pregnancy at First Antenatal VisitTable 4.3 shows that almost half of the mothers (49 percent) sought ANC during their first visitnot because of a problem but because they wanted a checkup, an indication that women are aware that acheckup is necessary during pregnancy to ascertain that there are no problems. Women are more likely togo for a checkup not associated with a problem when it is for their first child, if they live in an urban area,or in the North zone, particularly in the North Eastern region. Seventy-nine percent of mothers with ahigh level of education go for a first visit just to get a checkup and not because of a problem. Thispercentage is higher than the percentages just going for a checkup among women with secondary (61percent), primary (51 percent), madrassa (44 percent), and no education (48 percent). There is no clearrelationship between wealth and remoteness and the likelihood that the woman’s first visit for ANC wasmotivated simply by the desire to have a checkup rather than to obtain care for a specific problem.The most commonly reported problems that led to seeking ANC for the first time are headache(20 percent), pain in the lower abdomen (17 percent), and body ache (15 percent).Maternal Health | 69