Abstract

Good antenatal care (ANC) is one of the most important health care aspects known to reduce maternal mortality. In Ethiopia, regional and national data at times do not concur thus data from district to district level decision making are needed. The aim of this study was, therefore, to assess the prevalence and correlates of ANC service utilization. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women. Multistage sampling was used. Pre-tested structured questionnaire was data collection tool. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 for windows. Logistic regression was used to assess possible association among variables. Odds ratio at 95% confidence interval was used to measure strength, and statistical significance of associations. Prevalence of ANC service utilization was 57%. Of these, more than 80% of them received ANC for ≥4 times. This finding is more similar to the regional report (68%) than that of EDHS (2011) for Amhara Region (34%). Marital status, educational status and income were important predictors for ANC service utilization. The most outstanding finding of this study was that more than 20% and 60% of mothers received antennal care, and information about antenatal care from health extension workers. Antenatal care utilization is still low. Single, divorced, or separated mothers were less likely to utilize ANC while economically better off, and literate mothers were more likely to use ANC services than their counterparts. The finding of this study is in line with the annual reports from the Regional health bureau and disagrees with Ethiopian demographic health survey—EDHS-(2011). Therefore, districts should be encouraged to make decisions based on their own locally generated data than based on EDHS data which could at times be discouraging for districts with better performance. Further strengthening of Health Extension Program is recommended.

Highlights

  • Antenatal care (ANC) is a care provided by skilled health personnel to a pregnant woman throughout her pregnancy [1]

  • A study done in Yem especial Zone (2009) [10] and Jima town (2007) [11] of southwest Ethiopia revealed that antenatal care utilization rate was 28.5%, and 76.7%, respectively

  • Our study revealed that health extension workers provided antenatal care services for more than 20% of mothers

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Summary

Introduction

Antenatal care (ANC) is a care provided by skilled health personnel to a pregnant woman throughout her pregnancy [1]. It is regarded as a basic component of maternal health care on which the life of mothers and babies depend [2]. Women of reproductive age constitute more than one fifth of the world’s population. They are repeatedly exposed to pregnancy related health risks. The situation is even more serious for women in Sub-Saharan Africa where one in every 16 women dies because of pregnancy related causes [1] [3]. Sub Saharan Africa incurs 98% of maternal deaths [1]

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