Factors associated with antenatal care service utilization among pregnant women in Western Uganda

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to establish the factors associated with ANC service utilization among pregnant women in Western Uganda. Secondary data from the UDHS 2016 was used for the study. This study focused on ANC service utilization among women in the reproductive age group (15-49). The respondents for this study were 4774 women from Western Uganda. The study employed quantitative approach with correlation-descriptive design. Analysis of data was done at three stages that are univariate, bivariate and multivariate. Binary logistic regression was used to establish associations between socio-economic, demographic and ANC service utilization. The findings of the study revealed that educated women were less likely to utilize ANC services compared to those who were not educated; married women were more likely to utilize ANC services compared to the never married; the poor class of women were more likely to utilize ANC services compared to the rich class of women; the women aged 20-24 years were more likely to utilize ANC services compared to those with 15-19 years in Western Uganda. The study recommends that the Ministry of health and other related non-governmental organizations should sensitize unmarried women to make use of ANC services. This will help to among other things minimize or reduce maternal mortality rate and also infant mortality rate. Further research should be made in Western Uganda to know why educated women and women of rich class do not seek ANC services i.e. as to why they are not significant. Further research is also recommended in the area of antenatal service utilization in Uganda and developing countries and should cover rural and urban areas