Factors Associated with Reaching the 6th Antenatal Care Contact within Toma Health District in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Background/Aim: The 6th contact is the end-of-pregnancy consultation at 36 weeks. This study aimed at determining the factors associated with reaching at least 6 antenatal care contacts within Toma health district. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study involving 34 health facilities in Toma health district. It was carried out from December 01st , 2020 to November 30rd, 2022 with a prospective collection method. Only pregnant women monitored with the REC-Maternity application and who had given birth during the study period were included. Results: The study included 7275 patients. Women were over 25 years in 57% of cases, and 67% of them lived between 0 and 4 km away from the health facility. The proportion of women who achieved at least 6 healthcare contacts was estimated at 8.7%. Logistic regression showed that the presence of a complaint (OR=2.8; P<0.001), the distance travelled between 0 and 4km (P<0.001), the fact of being accompanied (OR=1.33; P=0.021), the presence of means of transport (OR=1.6; P=0.015) had a positive and significant influence at a threshold of 5% on reaching at least 6 antenatal care contacts within Toma health district. On the other hand, having no educational level, being under 19 years, being unmarried (OR=0.7; P=0.032) and being late for ANC (OR=0.25; P<0.001) have a negative and significant influence at a threshold of 5% on reaching at least 6 antenatal care contacts in the district. Conclusion: The frequency of 6 antenatal care contacts was relatively very low. Advice on the risk of discontinuity of antenatal care on the mother’s and newborn’s health is urgently needed within the district health facilities at every contact of the woman with the maternity ward.