Abstract
Background: Early entry to antenatal care is important for early detection and treatment of adverse pregnancy related outcomes. However, only 11% of Ethiopian women had an antenatal care visit before their fourth month of pregnancy, as recommended by world health organization. Hence, this study was aimed to assess predictors of early ante natal booking in government health facilities of Hossana town, Hadiya zone, South Ethiopia. Methods: Health facility based an unmatched case control study was conducted in government health facilities in Hossana town, from December, 1/2014-April, 30/2015 using interviewer guided questionnaire. Total sample size was 255 (85 cases and 170 controls) and taken from all government health facilities in case to control ratio 1:2 until the total sample of cases and controls obtained. Bivariate regression analysis was done and all explanatory variables associated with early ANC booking at p-value <0.25 were entered in to multivariable logistic regression analysis. Finally, p-value <0.05 was used to identify independent predictors of early antenatal booking. Results: Visiting antenatal care alone [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=3.43(95% confidence interval (CI: 1.06, 11.09)], being employed in non-governmental organizations [AOR=6.82(95%CI: 1.56, 29.77)], venders [AOR=6.25(95%CI: 2.16, 18.06)], housewife [AOR= 3.3(95%CI: 1.09, 9.97)], perceived time of antenatal care initiation at < 4 months of pregnancy [AOR= 5.51(95%CI: 1.28, 23.67)], recognition of pregnancy at 1-2 months [AOR= 7.21(95%CI: 2.47, 21.08)] and perceived number of 4 and more antenatal care visit per pregnancy [AOR=3.53(95%CI: 1.22, 10.21)] were independent predictors of early antenatal care booking among pregnant women attending antenatal care unit in government health facilities of Hossana town. Conclusions and recommendations: Health service managers, health care providers, Medias and community at large should give emphasis for the predictors of early antenatal booking like number of antenatal care visit per pregnancy, early recognition of pregnancy and time of antenatal care initiation to improve early antenatal care booking and to enable women benefit from the services in Hossana town.
Highlights
Entry to antenatal care is important for early detection and treatment of adverse pregnancy related outcomes
In developing countries like Ethiopia as result of low utilization of maternal health care service such as antenatal care visit (34%), skilled delivery care (10%) and post natal care (7%); the opportunity to deliver health information and services that can significantly promote the health of the women and their infants is one of the challenges that the government is facing
This study addressed women in government health facilities; it could not be representative of women attending non-governmental health facilities or other sources of antenatal care
Summary
Entry to antenatal care is important for early detection and treatment of adverse pregnancy related outcomes. Only 11% of Ethiopian women had an antenatal care visit before their fourth month of pregnancy, as recommended by world health organization. In developing countries like Ethiopia as result of low utilization of maternal health care service such as antenatal care visit (34%), skilled delivery care (10%) and post natal care (7%); the opportunity to deliver health information and services that can significantly promote the health of the women and their infants is one of the challenges that the government is facing. To optimize the effectiveness of maternal health services, early entry to antenatal care is crucial since women visiting antenatal care receive counseling on the importance of skilled care delivery and subsequent post natal checkups. Only 11% of Ethiopian women had an antenatal care visit before their fourth month of pregnancy, as recommended and 19% received the recommended four or more antenatal care visits [2]
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