Six in ten pregnant women attending Barbados’ polyclinics are beginning antenatal care later than recommended, despite widespread awareness that care should start during the first trimester.
The finding emerged from a study by Clinical Medical Officer at the Branford Taitt Polyclinic, Dr. Katrina Nurse, who examined antenatal booking patterns among women accessing public primary healthcare services across the island.
The study, The Prevalence of Late Antenatal Booking Among Pregnant Women in Polyclinics in Barbados and Maternal Factors Influencing Late Bookings, surveyed 237 women attending all nine polyclinics in Barbados between February and July 2025. It found that 60 per cent began antenatal care after 12 weeks’ gestation, the threshold used to define late booking.
Presenting her findings at the 25th Errol Walrond Scientific Symposium in July 2026, Dr. Nurse said knowledge of recommended booking timelines did not always translate into action.
“Eighty per cent of the participants identified that antenatal care should begin within the first trimester. However, the discrepancy between this knowledge and observed behaviour suggests that awareness alone is insufficient to ensure timely booking.”
The research found no significant relationship between late booking and factors such as age, education level, employment status, income, and chronic illness.
Substance users seek care earlier
The only significant association was that women who reported substance use were more likely to seek care earlier.
“Women engaging in substance use may have heightened awareness of potential pregnancy-related risks, while those with no substance use may deem themselves as low-risk and not feel as great a sense of urgency to seek early antenatal care,” Dr. Nurse suggested.
The researcher also pointed out that some participants reported difficulties securing appointments or contacting clinics by telephone, which could delay access to care.
“It would be warranted to look into clinic-related or health-system-related factors to see if there’s any influence on booking date,” she said.
Dr. Nurse added that the lack of clear demographic predictors suggests broader behavioural and healthcare system factors may be influencing when women first access antenatal services.
