Factors Influencing Late Utilization of First Antenatal Care Services Among Pregnant Women in Rwanda

Abstract

Background: Early antenatal care (ANC) attendance promotes early detection and treatment of pregnant complications. The late utilization of ANC refers to seeking ANC services after twelve weeks of pregnancy. The research aimed to examine the factors behind late ANC services utilization among pregnant women in Rwanda. Methods: This research was a cross-sectional study using quantitative approach. The study population included pregnant women seeking ANC services from seven health centers from Mugonero District Hospital. Sample size of 140 respondents was selected using a two-stage randomized cluster sampling procedure from the study population. Data were collected through structured questionnaire, coded and analyzed using SPSS. Results: The majority (62.1%) pregnant women were married, (58.6%) had more than 3 children, 57.1% attended primary education, and 92.9% were unemployed. The prevalence of late ANC utilization was 57.1%. The odds of attending ANC lately was 2.8 times higher among pregnant women with primary education compared to mothers with tertiary education (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: [1.32 -3.90]), unemployed mothers have been found to timely attend ANC compared to employed mothers (AOR = 0.13, 95% CI: [0.06 - 1.42]). Mothers who paid themselves transport cost were most likely to late attend ANC compared to mothers who did not pay transport (AOR = 1.90, 95% CI: [1.25-2.18]). Mothers who previously received poor ANC services at health center were most likely to late attend ANC (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI: [1.82-3.16]). Conclusion: The late antenatal care attendance remains high in the study area indicating that the importance of early initiation is not yet fully understood at the community level. Therefore, an approach that involves all stakeholders should be used to address the matter at hand.