Abstract
In resource-limited settings, the uptake of antenatal care visits among women, especially teenage pregnant women, is disturbingly low. Factors that influence the uptake of ANC services among teenage women is largely understudied and poorly understood in John Taolo Gaetsewe (JTG), a predominantly rural and poor district of South Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the factors that influence uptake of ANC services among teenage mothers in JTG district. A cross-sectional health facility-based study utilising mixed method was conducted in all public health facilities (n=44) at JTG district. Mother-infant pairs (n=383) who brought their infants for six-week first DPT immunisation during the study period were enrolled in the study. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on demographic, socio-economic and uptake of ANC indicators. Out of 272 respondent mothers, 18.68% were adolescent mothers (13-19 years). The logistic regression analysis shows that mother's age (OR=2.11; 95%CI = 1.04 - 4.27); distance to the nearest health facility (OR=3.38; 95%CI = 1.45-7.87); and client service satisfaction (OR=8.58; 95%CI =2.10-34.95 are significantly associated with poor uptake of ANC services. There is a need to improve the quality of adolescent reproductive health services tailored to their health and developmental needs. Moreover, addressing the social determinants of health that affect individual's healthy life style and health seeking behavior is critical.
Highlights
Maternal and child health issues take a central stage in global health agenda with the concerted efforts of many players and a number of initiatives
Despite the efforts of many global health players, data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Health Observatory (GHO) 2015 data, and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals 2015 report show that pregnancy-related complications are still the leading causes of death amongst women in the reproductive age in developing countries.[1,2]
Of 383 sample mothers approached for study participation, 272 agreed to participate in the study and completed the survey questionnaire which resulted in a 72% of response rate
Summary
Maternal and child health issues take a central stage in global health agenda with the concerted efforts of many players and a number of initiatives This has been followed by a corresponding commitment on targets, interventions, and guidelines to avert health risks and life threating dangers to women in pregnancy and childbirth. Factors that influence the uptake of ANC services among teenage women is largely understudied and poorly understood in John Taolo Gaetsewe (JTG), a predominantly rural and poor district of South Africa.The aim of this study was to determine the factors that influence uptake of ANC services among teenage mothers in JTG district
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