Abstract
BackgroundEarly initiation of antenatal care (ANC) within the first trimester is highly recommended in the current 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Mass media has the potential to promote early initiation of ANC because it has been used successfully in several programs. However, there is paucity of literature on the effect of exposure to different types of media on the timing of ANC initiation in Uganda. Our study aimed at exploring associations between exposure to different types of mass media and timing of ANC initiation among women in Uganda.MethodsWe used a cross sectional study design, to conduct a secondary analysis of data collected in the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS). We included weighted data of all the 10,152 women of reproductive age (15–49 years). Multistage stratified sampling was used to select study participants. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association between exposure to different types of mass media and early initiation of ANC.ResultsAlmost a third of the women (2953/10,152, 29.1%, 95% CI 27.9–29.6) initiated their first ANC contact in the first trimester. Women who listened to radio at least once a week (adjusted OR (aOR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01–1.30) and those who watched television less than once a week (aOR 1.28, 95% CI 1.07–1.53) had higher odds of initiating ANC earlier compared to their counterparts not exposed to radio and television respectively.ConclusionExposure to radio and television is associated with timing of ANC initiation in Uganda. Importantly, the two types of mass media have the potential to reach women with low levels of education and encourage them to utilize maternal health services. The Ugandan government needs to prioritize and intensify the use of radio and television to promote the benefits associated with timing of ANC initiation.
Highlights
Initiation of antenatal care (ANC) within the first trimester is highly recommended in the current 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines
During ANC, women receive a number of services such as micronutrient supplementation, screening and management of hypertension, immunization against tetanus, human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) testing and counselling as part of the program for elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, as well as insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) plus prophylaxis against malaria [6]
Studies have documented that women who initiate ANC early develop confidence in the maternity services and they are more likely to deliver under the care of a skilled birth attendant and utilize early postnatal care (PNC); practices which have been associated with positive maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnancy [3, 7, 8]
Summary
Initiation of antenatal care (ANC) within the first trimester is highly recommended in the current 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Our study aimed at exploring associations between exposure to different types of mass media and timing of ANC initiation among women in Uganda. Initiation of antenatal care (ANC) is highly recommended by the new 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines [1]. Studies have documented that women who initiate ANC early develop confidence in the maternity services and they are more likely to deliver under the care of a skilled birth attendant and utilize early postnatal care (PNC); practices which have been associated with positive maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnancy [3, 7, 8]. WHO previously recommended focused ANC Model that emphasized at least four ANC visits for every normal pregnancy [9], this was modified in 2016 from four to at least eight contacts, with the first contact to be made within the first 12 weeks of gestation [10, 11]
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