Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: September | Volume: 7 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 221-230
Factors Associated With Utilisation of Antenatal Care Services by Pregnant Women Aged Between 18 and 49 Years in Masvingo Province
Munangaidzwa Sihle, Mhlanga Maxwell, Zvinavashe Mathilda, Haruzivishe Clara
College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe
Corresponding Author: Mhlanga Maxwell
ABSTRACT
Objectives: The study sought to identify factors associated with utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services by women aged between 18-49 years in Masvingo Province
Methods: An analytical cross sectional study guided by Anderson and Newman conceptual Framework of Health Services Utilisation, was carried out at Masvingo Provincial hospital to identify predisposing, enabling and need related factors associated with ANC utilization by pregnant women aged 18-49 years. Utilisation of ANC services was defined as the number of ANC visits that a client makes during one pregnancy. Those who had at least four ANC visits before birth during their pregnancy were classified as having utilised ANC services. Women in ANC who were 36 weeks pregnant, aged between 18 and 49 years, attending ANC at Masvingo Provincial Hospital during the data collection period and were willing to participate in the study were included. Simple random sampling using the lottery method was then used to select study participants. A total of 207 pregnant women were interviewed.
Results: The prevalence of non-utilization of ANC services in Masvingo Province was 48%. Statistically significant predisposing factors associated with non-utilization of ANC services were having nil/primary level of education (COR=14.45; 95% CI: 1.843-113.356), family income of less than US $500 (COR= 2.837, 1.534-5.247) and not being married (COR= 2,839; 95%CI: 1.045-7.714). Statistically significant enabling factors associated with non-utilization of ANC services were not having a planned pregnancy (COR=6.665; 95% CI: 3.528-12.591), not being encouraged to go for ANC check-up (COR=4.440; 95%CI: 2.452-8.042), not having autonomy to seek health care (COR= 4.231; 95%CI: 2.277-7.861) and not having a previous normal vertex delivery (COR=2.139; 95%CI: 1.219-3.752). Statistically significant need related factors which were associated with non-utilization of ANC services were not having been satisfied with the care provided in ANC (COR=5.277; 95%CI: 2.565-1086), not having used ANC services before (COR=4.173; 95%CI: 1.479-11.802) and not having knowledge about the risks associated with pregnancy (COR=3.518; 95%CI: 1.881-6.58).
Conclusion: There is need for the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s Family Health department in conjunction with the department of nursing services, to carry out community awareness campaigns on the importance of antenatal care utilisation.
Key words: Antenatal Care, Factors associated, Utilisation. Analytical cross sectional