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Phoebe Miller, University of California Berkeley
Ndola Prata, University of California, Berkeley
Dilys Walker, University of California, San Francisco
Introduction: Antenatal Care (ANC) remains a critical window during which maternal and fetal health can be improved. It is particular important that women enter ANC in their first trimester (ie. gestation age of less than 12 weeks) to ensure early detection, monitoring and treatment of hypertension, gestational diabetes and chronic conditions. While the determinants of early entry to ANC could be many (ie. education, parity, income), one that offers opportunity for appropriate public health intervention is empowerment; the expansion in one’s ability to make strategic life choices. The study recorded observations on a total of 1,290 women ages 15-49 years of age. Gestational age (GA) greater than 16 weeks at the first antenatal care visit was the primary outcome of the analysis. Empowerment measurements included decision making confidence, access to prenatal knowledge, economic independence and the quality of communication between pregnant women with their care providers and peers.