PREVALENCE AND FACTORS AFFECTING THE UTILIZATION OF ANTENATAL CARE IN SANA’A CITY, YEMEN

Abstract

Back ground and objective: Antenatal care (ANC) is a health care intervention intended to ensure the safety of pregnancy. According to the World Health Organization, at least four ANC visits are recommended for a healthy pregnancy. However, whether this recommended number of visits was followed or not in the urban or rural areas of Yemen is not known. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the prevalence of, and the associated factors of ANC utilization by pregnant women in the city of Sana’a, Yemen. Methods: This study is an Institutional based cross-sectional descriptive study of married pregnant women practices toward ANC services. The sample size was calculated by Epi-Info to be 452 participants; multistage sampling was adopted. Data was collected direct interviews using a structured questionnaire with close-ended questions. Local language questionnaire was used. The questionnaire consists of several parts (Demographic characteristics, obstetric history, and practices (utilization of ANC) at 10- Health centers of Sana’a City, Republic of Yemen. Epi-Info was used for data analysis, χ2 was calculated and p. value < 0.05 was considered as a cut off for significance of deference. Results: The response rate was 99.1%. Only 214 (47.3%) of the respondents have adequate utilization of ANC. Adequate ANC utilization was high in educated mother, educated husband, high and moderate income, mothers with children >5. According to obstetric factors, adequate ANC utilization was high in mothers whose age at first pregnancy was more than 20 years, primigravida and primipara. Conclusion: The study results highlight the need to increase the number of ANC visits, and the importance of using an appropriate model to determine the important socio-demographic factors that ANC service providers shall focus on to improve the health of the unborn baby and the mother during pregnancy. Peer Review History: Received: 4 July 2022; Revised: 12 August; Accepted: 7 September, Available online: 15 September 2022 Academic Editor: Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, amaka_mgbahurike@yahoo.com Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. Wadhah Hassan Ali Edrees, Hajja University, Yemen, edress2020@gmail.com Dr. Bilge Ahsen KARA, Ankara Gazi Mustafa Kemal Hospital, Turkey, ahsndkyc@gmail.com Similar Articles: TETANUS IMMUNIZATION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN: COVERAGE RATE AND RATE OF PROTECTION AT TIME OF DELIVERY