REVIEW PROF-3803 ABSTRACT… Background: Prenatal and postnatal health care utilization services are imperative strategy to decrease maternal morbidity and mortality. One in 38 Pakistani women dies from pregnancy related causes as compared to 1 in 230 women in Sri Lanka. Objectives: The objective of the present study is to know about the pattern and trends of utilization of antenatal and postnatal health care services by mothers in Pakistan. Study design: Descriptive systematic literature review. Material and methods: The relevant literature was systematically searched through different key words related to antenatal and postnatal health care utilization services in Pakistan through different online research engines to accomplish this study. Results: Twenty five research articles were included in this review article. It was found that last two decades, we cannot achieve the optimum progress towards antenatal and postnatal health care utilization services. The problem is much severe in rural areas of across the country, where a number of socio-cultural and program factors hinders women to utilize the basic health services. Mother's education, household income, autonomous at household decision making and birth order are the significant factors that to utilize the antenatal and postnatal care in Pakistan. Conclusion: There should be need to aware the mother about the importance of prenatal and postnatal visits. In rural areas, government should give some economic incentive for prenatal and postnatal visits. Furthermore, government should take necessary steps to tackle the problem by providing the easy access to the health care facilities.

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Study objectives were devised to assess perceptions of women regarding importance of folic acid intake, to evaluate role of healthcare providers in counseling of women for folic acid intake, to find out association between perceptions of women with folic acid intake practices and with counseling of healthcare providers. Study Design: A cross sectional survey. Setting: Gynecology and Obstetrics Wards and OPDs of Tertiary Care and Teaching Hospitals of District Rawalpindi. Period: July-December 2016. Methodology: Study participants were approached by using convenient sampling technique and sample size was of 271 women of reproductive age. attending gynecology and obstetrics wards and OPDs of tertiary care and teaching hospitals of district Rawalpindi. After obtaining consent from institutional review board, an interview-based questionnaire was used as data collection tool. Results: Out of 271 women of childbearing age, 60% perceived the importance of folic acid intake in diet. The highest counseling contribution was from doctors (57.6%) while evaluation of role of healthcare providers was done regarding counseling. Those who had perceived importance of folic acid had a significant better intake (p = 0.03). There was a significant association between role of healthcare providers and perceptions (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Majority of women perceived importance of folic acid intake and doctors were playing a significant role in counseling of women regarding folic acid intake during pregnancy. Folic acid intake practices were significantly influenced by women's own perceptions and role of healthcare providers was a very important factor to direct perceptions of women.

Objectives: Study objectives were devised to assess perceptions of womenregarding importance of folic acid intake, to evaluate role of healthcare providers in counselingof women for folic acid intake, to find out association between perceptions of women withfolic acid intake practices and with counseling of healthcare providers. Study Design: A crosssectional survey. Setting: Gynecology and Obstetrics Wards and OPDs of Tertiary Care andTeaching Hospitals of District Rawalpindi. Period: July-December 2016. Methodology: Studyparticipants were approached by using convenient sampling technique and sample size was of271 women of reproductive age. attending gynecology and obstetrics wards and OPDs of tertiarycare and teaching hospitals of district Rawalpindi. After obtaining consent from institutionalreview board, an interview-based questionnaire was used as data collection tool. Results:Out of 271 women of childbearing age, 60% perceived the importance of folic acid intake indiet. The highest counseling contribution was from doctors (57.6%) while evaluation of role ofhealthcare providers was done regarding counseling. Those who had perceived importanceof folic acid had a significant better intake (p = 0.03). There was a significant associationbetween role of healthcare providers and perceptions (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Majority ofwomen perceived importance of folic acid intake and doctors were playing a significant role incounseling of women regarding folic acid intake during pregnancy. Folic acid intake practiceswere significantly influenced by women’s own perceptions and role of healthcare providers wasa very important factor to direct perceptions of women.