Antenatal tests are tests done during pregnancy to check a woman's health and her baby's.

In Rwanda, access to antenatal care (ANC) is highly encouraged, and women are expected to have at least four antenatal visits to a health centre before giving birth.

However, despite this, cultural factors remain a concern, as many women do not go for ANC until the second trimester of pregnancy, making the recommended four visits challenging to meet.

In an interview with the media last week, couples talked about the importance of antenatal tests in regard to the health of the mothers and the unborn babies.

At Rugerero Health Centre in Rubavu district, we spoke to Nathalie Uwiringiyimana and Jean Marie Maniragaba, an expectant couple that emphasized to us the significance of going together for the tests.

"Coming here for the tests when pregnant makes you know about the health of the unborn baby and of yourself as the mother. You get information and advice from the medics and this assists you to take good care of yourself during pregnancy. For example, you get to learn that you should not do hard work and should try to eat well – having a balanced diet,” Uwiringiyimana said.

Nathalie Uwiringiyimana explains to journalist the role of antenatal tests. Antenatal tests are tests done during pregnancy to check a woman's health and her baby's. Photo by Celine Cyuzuzo (RBC)

Maniragaba noted that he escorts his wife to the health centre for the tests since he also needs to know more about how to take good care of her during pregnancy.

"Escorting a pregnant woman for antenatal tests is important for the husband because it assists him to know about the growth of the unborn child. It makes the husband know more about how to take care of her when pregnant. They give us good advice about that,” he said.

Besides finding out health conditions that may be affecting the unborn child in case they are there, antenatal tests also pay attention to the nutrition of the mother, since this can really affect the unborn child and the mother as well.

According to the Rwanda National Food and Nutrition Strategic Plan, chronic malnutrition may occur when pregnant women do not have adequate nutritional food intake during pregnancy.

"Stunting is also closely linked to poor gestational growth and low birth weight, but the risks continue after birth, particularly during the age of 6-24 months. The foods, feeding, and care required for normal growth and development during pregnancy and the first two years of life are therefore critical,” reads part of the Ministry of Health’s Maternal Newborn and Child Health Strategic Plan for 2018–2024.

"Optimal nutrition and correction of nutritional deficiencies during the early years are especially significant, as beyond 2 years of age, reversal of the damage, such as delayed mental and motor development, is often not possible. Stunting is preventable but not curable,” it adds.

Jean Claude Habiyaremye, also a parent from Rubavu, told us about how the advice he gets from antenatal visits can assist him in treating his wife well during pregnancy, not only in terms of feeding but also on the side of emotions.

Jean Marie Maniragaba who used to accompany his wife for antenatal tests at Rugerero Health center . Photo by Celine Cyuzuzo (RBC)

"During the visits, you get to learn about how to protect your wife during pregnancy. You make sure there are no conflicts at home, you try to make her happy. You also try to get her the food that is needed for a balanced diet,” he said.

"If she does not get good care, it affects the unborn child. Children can stunt from when they are unborn until they are 2 years old,” he added.

Libertha Uwamahoro, Habiyambere’s wife, says it "makes her happy” when her husband escorts her for antenatal tests.

Clemence Dusingize, the Communication Specialist who is in charge of Social and Behaviour Change at Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) told media last week that antenatal tests are very key for pregnant women, since here they get advice about how to live during pregnancy, in addition to the fact that they are provided with other medical supplies, for example, nutritional supplements that assist them to have enough blood during pregnancy.