DETERMINANTS OF ANTENATAL CARE SERVICE UTILIZATION AMONG PRIMIGRAVIDAE IN GUSHEGU MUNICIPALITY IN NORTHERN REGION

Abstract

The significant of antenatal care and skilled-birth attendants at delivery in the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality cannot be emphasized and are key components of the safe motherhood initiatives. Despites the introduction of certain strategies to promote early antenatal care utilization and delivery in health facilities by skilled attendants, most primigravidae in Gushegu municipality initiate antenatal care services late while others did not utilize the services at all. As a result, this study intended to explore the determinants of ANC service utilization among primigravidae in Gushegu municipality. A cross sectional study was conducted from August to October, among three hundred and eighty four primigravidae and primiparious who delivered for the past six months preceding the survey. A quantitative method of data collection was used. The collected information was analysed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, tables, percentages among others were used to analyses the quantitative data collected. The study found that 71.4% of the respondents mentioned that they knew about ANC and 60% of the respondents mentioned that, it is better for pregnant women to visit the hospital at least four times before delivery. Also, the results showed age, religion, occupation as well as possession of NHIS as determinants of antenatal care service utilization in Gushegu Municipality. Other factors such as fear of stigmatization (23.4%), delays in service delivery (22%), poor family support (20%) are among the factors influencing ANC service utilization among primigravidae. The strategies suggested by the respondents to improve ANC utilization are public education and sensitization (43%), change of health care provider’s attitudes (26%), distance and delays associated with the delivery (22%) and establishment of adolescence ante-natal care service centers as strategies to enhance ANC utilization among primigravidae in Gushegu municipality. The study recommend that, the Gushegu Municipal Health Directorates should organized professional development workshop and services for all health care providers in the Municipality as well as request for more midwives and community health nurses to pave way for more health centers to be opened for easy accessibility by primigravidae during ANC services.