ArticleBMC health services research2025
Exploring the barriers to accessing antenatal care at the primary health care center level of a tertiary hospital in Lebanon: a qualitative study.
Article in BMC health services research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Neural Tube Defects in Resource-Limited Settings: A Lebanese Case Series Highlighting Prevention Gaps and Challenges in Prenatal Diagnosis.Case reports in obstetrics and gynecology · 2026Article
- Community-engaged health outreach program contributes to health service, research, and education in rural areas.Frontiers in health services · 2026Article
- Social and health system factors associated with maternal mortality in Eastern and Western China: Population health estimates using provincial-level data.PLoS medicine · 2025Article
- Patient-Centred Gestational Diabetes Care: Preference Elicitation Methods and Machine Learning Innovations.Patient preference and adherence · 2025Review
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundAccess to antenatal care (ANC) is vital for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes. However, barriers to ANC remain a challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings such as Lebanon. This study examines the barriers pregnant women in Lebanon face when accessing ANC at a primary healthcare center (PHCC) in a public tertiary hospital located in Beirut, Lebanon.
methodsThis qualitative study explored the perspectives of 17 pregnant women receiving ANC at the Rafic Hariri University Hospital (RHUH) PHCC. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather in-depth insights into their experiences with ANC services. Verbatim transcripts of the interviews were analyzed using an inductive-deductive thematic approach, identifying several barriers to ANC at the PHCC level. Levesque's framework was used to identify key barriers to antenatal care across five dimensions of access, providing a structured approach to understanding challenges in service utilization at the study site.
resultsThe key barriers to accessing ANC services identified in the study include cultural influences, inadequate health literacy, and financial constraints, which delayed care-seeking and fostered mistrust between pregnant women and healthcare providers. Systemic inefficiencies such as long wait times, overcrowding, and poorly organized appointment processes further limited accessibility, while discrimination and communication barriers reduced engagement in care. Additionally, logistical challenges like time constraints, transportation issues, and staff shortages exacerbated by employee strikes, along with the ongoing economic crisis, affected both the affordability and quality of ANC services at RHUH.
conclusionImproving health literacy, streamlining service delivery, and enhancing patient-provider communication are key recommendations. Future efforts should focus on strengthening financial support, addressing logistical barriers, and regularly updating strategies to adapt to evolving challenges, ensuring equitable access to maternal care.
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