Factors Influencing Antenatal Care Service Utilisation among Pregnant Women in Uganda

Abstract

The study was about ANC service utilization among pregnant women in Uganda. Specifically, the objectives of the study established the association between socio-economic, demographic factors and ANC service utilization. Secondary data from the UDHS 2016 was used for the study. This study focused on ANC service utilization among pregnant women in the reproductive age group (15-49). The respondents enumerated for this study were 18506 women from Uganda selected from all regions of Uganda. The study employed quantitative approach with correlation-descriptive design. Analysis of data was done at three stages that is univariate, bivariate and multivariate. Binary logistic regression was used to establish associations between socio-economic factors, demographic factors and ANC service utilization. The findings of the study revealed that age, education level, wealth index and place of residence, parity and marital status had a statistical significant influence on ANC service utilization among pregnant women in Uganda. The study recommended that some crucial steps should be taken on sensitizing women about the benefits of attaining ANC services during pregnancy. The study recommended that the government should work on roads and construction of more health centers so as to improve on the time taken to reach the health centers. Also the government needs to employ more health workers in the health centers so as to cater for the overwhelming work at the health centers since most of the pregnant women use these facilities