Lahore: Pregnant women in Punjab are receiving significantly fewer antenatal care visits than recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), according to recent findings from the Punjab Health and Population Survey (PHPS) 2024-25 Baseline Survey Report. While 90% of women had at least one antenatal care visit, only 46.2% of them managed to reach the older WHO standard of four visits. The average number of visits per pregnancy in Punjab stands at 4.3, well below the WHO’s current recommendation of eight.

According to Gilani Research Foundation, the data reveals stark disparities across different districts and socio-economic groups. For instance, Sialkot, the district with the highest average, recorded 6.22 visits per pregnancy, while Rahim Yar Khan, the lowest, averaged just 2.35 visits. Furthermore, the wealth gap is evident, with 68.5% of women in the wealthiest households achieving four or more visits, compared to only 21.5% in the poorest households. Nearly a quarter of the poorest women received no antenatal care at all, highlighting significant inequalities in healthcare access.

The survey, which involved 7,693 women who had been pregnant in the three years preceding the survey, provides a comprehensive overview of the antenatal care landscape in Punjab. It underscores the challenges in meeting WHO recommendations, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities and improve maternal healthcare outcomes in the region.