Factors associated with antenatal care service utilization among women aged 15-49 years in Kigezi Region

Abstract

This study is about the factor associated with antenatal care service utilization among women aged 15-49 years in Kigezi region, Uganda. Antenatal care (ANC) is one of the fundamental elements of essential obstetric care. It helps in decreasing maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in low and middle income countries. The study aimed at understanding and assessing the different socio-economic and demographic factors influencing antenatal care utilization among women aged 15-49 years in Kigezi Region. The study used the 2016-UDHS female dataset for women aged 15-49 years. The analysis focused on 959 women to whom a woman’s questionnaire was administered. The explanatory variables included the age of the respondent, wealth index, partner’s education level, respondent’s education level, place of residence and number of living children including current pregnancy. The dependent variable was antenatal care (ANC) utilization. According to the results of the study, approximately 60.08% of the respondents attended to at least four ANC visits while 39.92% did not utilize ANC services as recommended. The study recommends strengthening of the provision of information, education and communication on availability and access to antenatal care services as an intervention to improve ANC seeking behaviours of the mothers. There should be adoption of mobile free health services. Women should also be encouraged to seek ANC services irrespective of the experience they have in giving birth. This would help them to obtain information regarding pregnancy issues.