The Gauteng Department of Health is urging pregnant women to attend antenatal care (ANC) early to ensure safer pregnancies and deliveries. This call comes as the country observed Pregnancy Awareness Week from 3 – 7 February.
Department records show that out of 229,127 pregnant women who visited Gauteng health facilities for antenatal care between January 2024 and January 2025, about 64,133 arrived after 20 weeks or even later.
While 164,994 women attended before 20 weeks, it is worrying that over 60,000 only got checked late by doctors or midwives. This delay means that health conditions affecting both mother and baby—such as infections and pregnancy complications—are detected late, increasing risks.
Antenatal care is important because it helps identify pregnancy issues like high blood pressure, anaemia, diabetes, and infections such as syphilis. Early detection allows doctors to start treatment in time, reducing the chances of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and other complications.
If pregnant women do not go for ANC on time, they might not know the danger signs in pregnancy. Late diagnosis can lead to miscarriages, birth defects, excessive bleeding after delivery, and even maternal death. Conditions like congenital syphilis can cause blindness and learning disabilities in babies.
It is also critical for pregnant women to get tested for HIV as soon as they miss a period. If diagnosed early, they can start treatment immediately, which helps suppress the virus and lowers the risk of passing HIV to their baby.
Pregnant women can visit any local clinic or Community Health Centre in Gauteng for antenatal care. These facilities provide daily ANC services and offer free supplements such as iron, folic acid, and calcium to support the baby’s growth and prevent pregnancy complications.
Additionally, pregnant women are encouraged to sign up for MOM CONNECT, a free health messaging service that provides pregnancy updates and guidance on what to expect at each stage.
