One in 4 pregnant ladies now full the really helpful eight antenatal care visits, in keeping with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), with well being officers saying the programme is enhancing early detection of being pregnant issues and growing attendance at prenatal care providers.
The eight-contact antenatal care mannequin was launched on the finish of 2023, changing the earlier suggestion of 4 visits in step with the World Well being Organisation (WHO) pointers.
The revised schedule is designed to enhance the early detection and administration of pregnancy-related issues, significantly people who develop throughout the later levels of being pregnant.
Antenatal, or prenatal, care refers back to the well being providers supplied by expert professionals throughout being pregnant to safeguard the wellbeing of each the mom and child.
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Consciousness stays excessive
Dr. François Regis Cyiza, Head of Maternal and Baby Well being Programmes at RBC, stated consciousness of antenatal care is usually excessive, though not all expectant moms know they’re now anticipated to attend eight visits.
“Even when some ladies have no idea the precise variety of really helpful contacts, they perceive the significance of searching for antenatal care,” he stated.
Chantal Uwera, who gave start to a wholesome child boy 5 months in the past, stated she attended month-to-month antenatal appointments as suggested by her gynaecologist.
“The reminders earlier than every appointment have been useful as a result of lots can change in a month. Common check-ups reassured me that my child was creating effectively and eased my nervousness all through the being pregnant,” stated the Kiyovu resident, whose son weighed 3.5 kilograms at start.
Cyiza stated ladies are knowledgeable in regards to the eight-contact schedule throughout their first antenatal go to. Healthcare suppliers and neighborhood well being staff clarify the aim of every appointment and encourage moms to finish all really helpful visits to enhance outcomes for each mom and child.
Regular progress
RBC started monitoring completion of all eight antenatal visits throughout the 2024/25 monetary yr, a few yr after the brand new guideline took impact.
Nationwide information exhibits that about 25 % of pregnant ladies accomplished all eight visits between July 2024 and June 2025. The determine elevated to round 27 % throughout the 2025/26 monetary yr.
Though progress has been gradual, Cyiza stated the programme continues to be in its early levels and several other elements have an effect on completion charges.
One problem is that the eighth go to is scheduled between 38 and 40 weeks of being pregnant, but some ladies ship earlier than reaching that appointment.
“Late initiation of antenatal care additionally impacts completion as a result of ladies who start care after the primary trimester have much less time to finish all eight contacts earlier than supply,” he stated.
Why some ladies miss appointments
Cyiza stated work commitments and different private duties trigger some ladies to overlook scheduled visits.
“It’s largely a behaviour change subject relatively than an issue of service availability,” he stated.
Geographical obstacles additionally stay a problem. Whereas many communities are inside a 30-minute stroll of a well being centre, hilly terrain and troublesome journey circumstances could make attending appointments tougher for some moms.
Bettering maternal well being
Regardless of these challenges, the programme has contributed to increased utilisation of antenatal care providers.
In line with the 2025 Rwanda Demographic and Well being Survey, about 78 % of pregnant ladies now attend at the very least 4 antenatal care visits.
Cyiza stated the expanded schedule was launched as a result of proof exhibits that many being pregnant issues emerge throughout the second and third trimesters. These embody pregnancy-induced hypertension, pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes.He famous that many stillbirths additionally happen throughout the remaining months of being pregnant, making shut monitoring throughout this era important.
“For that motive, 5 of the eight antenatal contacts are scheduled throughout the third trimester. This permits healthcare suppliers to detect issues early and handle them promptly to forestall maternal or new child deaths,” he stated.
The programme, alongside broader investments in maternal healthcare, has contributed to improved outcomes.
Maternal mortality has fallen from 203 to 149 deaths per 100,000 stay births over the previous 5 years. Annual maternal deaths have additionally declined from between 300 and 320 earlier than the tip of 2023 to about 270 by June 2025 and round 240 by the tip of the next yr.
“We can’t deny that this programme has performed an vital function. It has contributed considerably to the discount,” Cyiza stated.
He attributed the positive factors to expanded antenatal care, a bigger well being workforce and the deployment of extra obstetricians and gynaecologists to district hospitals.
“Beforehand, specialists have been largely concentrated in tertiary hospitals, with only some district hospitals having them. As we speak, many district hospitals have obstetricians and gynaecologists, enhancing entry to specialised maternal healthcare,” he stated.
