Determinants of antenatal care utilization in Arsi Zone, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract:

A community based cross sectional study was carried out in Arsi Zone to document the pattern of utilization of antenatal care (ANC) and to investigate factors that affect women's use of it. Included as study subjects were 1204 women in their 3rd trimester of pregnancy and 801 in the three months post-delivery state, from four towns with access to ANC services. A pretested questionnaire was administered to collect data on study variables. The study found that about 52.2% of women had not attended antenatal clinics at all, and only 32.5% of women attenders had their first visit in the first trimester of pregnancy. About 45.2% of attenders had one or two prenatal visits while few (10.6%) had the recommended five visits. Analysis showed that the chance of non-attendance was higher for those women in the older age group, widows and divorced women, and those with no formal schooling, low monthly income, high parity and many living children. The main reasons for non-attendance at ANC Clinic were related to lack of knowledge of the need for ANC, and lack of time. The probability of non-attendance was higher for those with unplanned pregnancies and those who had negative attitudes to the current pregnancy. In this study, those who had perceived any illness as dangerous were more likely to be attenders of the service. Women who thought that they might develop dangerous health problems during pregnancy were also more likely to use the service. Recommendations concerning the improvement of ANC service and use are proposed. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1996; 10(3): 171-178]