Late initiation of antenatal care and its determinants: a hospital based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is important for both maternal and fetal health. Pregnant women with late initiation of ANC are more likely to attain poor outcomes of pregnancy. Little is known about the magnitude of receiving late ANC among pregnant women in Myanmar. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of late initiation of ANC and its determinants among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Pyin-Oo-Lwin General Hospital, Mandalay region during 2014. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Altogether 333 pregnant women were included in the study. Data were collected through face-to-face interview after getting informed consent from the respondents. Results: The prevalence of late initiation of ANC was 56.2% (95% CI: 50.6%, 61.6%). Univariate analysis revealed that residence; education and occupation of pregnant woman, husband’s occupation, gravidity, parity and being planned pregnancy were significantly related to late initiation of ANC. Based on the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis, residence, education of pregnant woman, occupation of husband, parity and being planned pregnancy were identified as significant determinants of receiving late ANC. Conclusions: Late ANC attendance is high in the study area. Hence, it is important to provide health education on the timing of ANC among women with reproductive age. Community’s awareness on importance of receiving early ANC also needs to be promoted. Family planning program (i.e., birth-spacing in Myanmar) should be enhanced to prevent unplanned pregnancies.