Abstract
Backgroud: The aim of antenatal care is to observe and examine pregnant women, in purpose to detect and treat women in risk of complications and disease related to pregnancy. WHO ́s newest recommendations on antenatal care were published in 2016. Each country can determine how to implement these recommendations to their own program of antenatal care. The objectives of this paper are to describe the content of antenatal care in Russia and compare them to the Norwegian guidelines. Furthermore, we explore if and how the two countries use the recommendations from WHO by looking at certain parameters of examination. Material and methods: We did an observational study at the “Center for Family Medicine” in St.Petersburg. We obtained the Russian guidelines of antenatal care and observed pregnancy controls. Additionally, we gathered information about the pregnant women ́s lifestyle by using a questionnaire. Results and conclusion: When comparing the specific parameters, there are similarities between Russia and Norway; also corresponding to recommendations from WHO. However, the Russian guidelines consist of a wide range of examinations, many of which are not recommended by WHO. We observed 16 pregnancy controls and collected 24 questionnaires. Our observations are too scarce to conclude upon whether the doctor ́s at the “Center for Family Medicine” follow the guidelines. Still, our observations confirm that they perform a lot of tests and examinations regardless of the pregnant woman being sick or not. We question the purpose and consequences of the Russian model and what evidences it is based upon.