Magnitude and Factors Affecting Late Initiation of Antenatal Care Service Utilization among Pregnant Women in Government Health Institutions, Mekelle Town, Ethiopia
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Background: Antenatal care is concerned mainly about preventive, early diagnosis and
treatment of general medical and pregnancy associated disorders. For it to meaningful, timely
initiation is recommended. However, late entry to antenatal care is still a major problem.
Pregnant women who do not have timely and appropriate care would be ill-equipped to make
choices that will contribute to their own well-being. Assessment of magnitude and factors
affecting late initiation of antenatal care among pregnant women in antenatal clinics is helpful
for future planning.
Objective: To assess the magnitude and factors affecting late initiation of antenatal care service
utilization among pregnant women who attended antenatal care clinics in Mekelle town
governmental health institutions during the study period.
Methodology: Across sectional facility based study was conducted in Mekelle town from
February 1, to March 1, 2010 on 419 pregnant women attending antenatal care at government
health institutions. Data collection tools were adopted from different literatures, modified to the
local context and pre-tested. Face-to-face interview of women were done by trained Nurses.
Consecutive sampling technique was employed to select the study subjects. Bivariate analysis
was employed to see the association between variables and the final model was constructed using
stepwise logistic regression selection method. Ethical clearance was obtained from Ethical
committee of Addis Ababa University School of Public health office before starting data
collection.
Results: Mean ages of the respondents were 26.2 + 5.4 years. Prevalence of late entry to
antenatal care was 64.7%. The timing of antenatal care booking ranges from 1st month to 8th
months of gestation. The median timing was 4 months (SD 1.6). Multivariate analysis revealed
that respondents age, educational status, knowledge on the benefit of ANC to child health,
wantedness of pregnancy, and recommended gestational age to start ANC (OR= 0.12, 95% CI:
0.34,0.39),(OR=0.12,95%CI:0.34,0.39),(OR=4.65,95%CI:1.04,20.75),(OR=2.61,95%CI:1.00,
6.77), and (OR=27.49, 95%CI:9.49, 79.64),respectively were found to be independent predictors
of initiation time of antenatal care service utilization.
Conclusion:- Late booking is still a major problem in this part of the study area. Public health
education and reducing unwanted pregnancy would be helpful in reducing the problem.
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Keywords
Magnitude and Factors Affecting Late Initiation