Researchers in Mexico studied over 1,300 pregnant women to understand why some go to prenatal appointments while others don’t. They found that about one-third of pregnant women rated their first doctor visit as poor quality, and nearly 30% needed emergency care during pregnancy. Women with health problems like high blood pressure or infections were more likely to attend appointments and seek emergency help. The study shows that many pregnant women aren’t getting all the recommended check-ups and tests they need, suggesting Mexico’s healthcare system needs improvements to help more women stay healthy during pregnancy.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Why pregnant women in Mexico do or don’t go to prenatal doctor appointments and emergency care visits, and what factors influence their choices
  • Who participated: 1,390 pregnant women aged 18-49 in Mexico who had health insurance through the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS). The study followed them through phone interviews during their pregnancies.
  • Key finding: On average, pregnant women attended six prenatal visits, but only about 65% received all the important tests and counseling they should get. About 30% needed emergency care during pregnancy. Women with health problems were more likely to attend appointments.
  • What it means for you: If you’re pregnant in Mexico with IMSS insurance, attending all prenatal appointments—especially with an obstetrician—appears important for catching problems early. However, the quality of care varies, so don’t hesitate to seek emergency help if something feels wrong. This research suggests the healthcare system could do better at making sure all pregnant women get complete care.

The Research Details

Researchers followed 1,390 pregnant women in Mexico by calling them on the phone to ask about their doctor visits and health experiences. This type of study is called a ‘cohort study’ because researchers tracked the same group of people over time. The women were all patients at IMSS (Mexico’s social security healthcare system) and were between 18-49 years old. Researchers asked detailed questions about how many prenatal appointments they attended, whether they went to the emergency room, and whether they received important tests like blood pressure checks, blood tests, ultrasounds, and health counseling.

The study tracked women from when they started prenatal care through their pregnancies. Some women dropped out of the study (12.4% after the first interview and 11.8% during follow-up), and 3.7% had miscarriages. Researchers used statistical methods to figure out which factors—like having high blood pressure, infections, or starting prenatal care early—were connected to attending more appointments or using emergency services.

This research approach is important because it shows real-world patterns in how pregnant women actually use healthcare services, not just what doctors recommend. By following women over time and asking them directly about their experiences, researchers could identify which health conditions and circumstances make women more likely to seek care. This helps healthcare systems understand where improvements are needed and which pregnant women might need extra support to stay healthy.

The study was conducted by calling women rather than seeing them in person, which is a practical way to gather information but might miss some details. Some women dropped out of the study, which could mean the final results don’t represent all pregnant women equally. However, the large sample size (1,390 women) and focus on a specific healthcare system (IMSS) makes the findings relevant for understanding prenatal care in Mexico. The study measured whether women received recommended care activities, which is a reliable way to assess quality.

What the Results Show

On average, pregnant women in this study attended about six prenatal appointments during their pregnancy. However, only about 65% of women received at least 80% of the 12 recommended care activities, which include blood pressure checks, weight measurements, blood and urine tests, ultrasounds, and counseling about nutrition, warning signs, birth preparation, newborn care, mental health, and vitamins.

About 30% of women who stayed in the study reported that the quality of their prenatal care was poor or fair. Interestingly, among women who dropped out of the study, one-third rated their first prenatal visit as poor or fair quality, suggesting that bad experiences might be why some women stop going to appointments.

Nearly 30% of pregnant women needed to use emergency services during their pregnancy. Women were more likely to attend regular prenatal appointments if they had health conditions like high blood pressure, urinary infections, or anemia, or if they started prenatal care early in pregnancy. Women who saw an obstetrician (a pregnancy specialist) and received care at a hospital were also more likely to attend appointments.

Women who used emergency services during pregnancy were more likely to have chronic diseases, high blood pressure related to pregnancy, urinary tract infections, risk of miscarriage, or signs of depression. This suggests that pregnant women with complications do seek emergency help when needed, but the study shows that regular prenatal care might help prevent some of these emergencies. The fact that women with health problems attended more appointments suggests they recognized their need for care, but the overall quality of care still needs improvement.

This study adds important information about prenatal care in Mexico, where research on this topic has been limited. Previous studies in other countries have shown that prenatal care reduces pregnancy complications and saves lives, but this is one of the first detailed studies looking at why some Mexican women use these services while others don’t. The findings align with global research showing that women with health complications are more likely to seek care, but also highlight a unique problem: many women in Mexico aren’t receiving complete prenatal care even when they do attend appointments.

Some important limitations to consider: The study relied on women remembering and reporting their own healthcare visits, which might not be completely accurate. Women who dropped out of the study might have had different experiences than those who stayed, so the results might not represent all pregnant women equally. The study only included women with IMSS insurance, so results might not apply to uninsured women or those with private insurance. Additionally, the phone interview method meant researchers couldn’t directly observe the quality of care or examine medical records to verify what services women actually received.

The Bottom Line

If you’re pregnant in Mexico with IMSS insurance: (1) Attend all your prenatal appointments, especially early in pregnancy—the data suggests this is associated with better care. (2) Try to see an obstetrician if possible, as women who saw specialists attended more appointments. (3) Don’t skip appointments even if you feel fine—regular check-ups catch problems early. (4) If you have health conditions like high blood pressure or infections, take them seriously and keep all appointments. (5) If something feels wrong during pregnancy, seek emergency care—about 30% of women in this study needed it. Confidence level: Moderate. These are associations found in the study, not proven causes, but they suggest important patterns in prenatal care.

This research is most relevant for pregnant women in Mexico with IMSS insurance, healthcare providers in Mexico, and policymakers working to improve maternal health. If you’re pregnant in another country, your healthcare system may work differently, but the general message about the importance of prenatal care applies everywhere. Women with chronic health conditions or complications should especially pay attention to these findings, as they show that regular prenatal care is connected to better outcomes.

Benefits of prenatal care aren’t always immediate. Regular appointments help catch problems early, which can prevent emergencies later in pregnancy. Most women should start seeing improvements in their care quality and peace of mind within the first few appointments. If you have health complications, consistent prenatal care may help prevent serious problems from developing over weeks and months of pregnancy.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track prenatal appointment attendance and completion of recommended care activities. Users should log: (1) Date and type of each prenatal visit, (2) Which tests were completed (blood pressure, blood test, urine test, ultrasound), (3) Which counseling topics were covered (nutrition, warning signs, birth prep, newborn care, mental health, vitamins), (4) Any emergency room visits and reason. Target: 100% attendance at recommended appointments and receipt of all 12 recommended care activities.
  • Set appointment reminders for all scheduled prenatal visits and create a checklist of the 12 recommended care activities to bring to each appointment. Users can check off items as they receive them, ensuring they’re getting complete care. If quality seems poor, users can discuss specific missing items with their provider or seek a second opinion.
  • Create a pregnancy care dashboard showing: (1) Appointment attendance rate (aim for 100%), (2) Percentage of recommended care activities received (aim for 80%+), (3) Any emergency visits and their reasons, (4) Overall satisfaction with care quality. Users can review this monthly to identify gaps in care and discuss them with their healthcare provider.

This research describes patterns in prenatal care use in Mexico but does not provide medical advice. If you are pregnant, follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for prenatal care. If you experience warning signs during pregnancy such as severe bleeding, severe abdominal pain, severe headache, vision changes, or difficulty breathing, seek emergency care immediately. This study shows associations between certain factors and prenatal care use, but does not prove that one causes the other. Individual pregnancy needs vary, and your doctor is the best source for personalized medical guidance.