Utilization of antenatal care services among women 15-49 years; Case study: Mubende municipality, Mubende district

Abstract

Introduction This study was focused on assessing the utilization of antenatal care services among women 15- 49 years in Mubende municipality, Mubende district. The independent variables were categorized as socio economic, health related and socio demographic factors. The dependent variables were measured in terms of high and low utilization of ANC in Mubende municipality. The general objective of the study was to find out the determinants of utilization of antenatal care services among women aged 15-49 years in Mubende municipality and specific objectives of the Study were; to describe the levels of antenatal care service utilization among women aged 15-49 years in Mubende municipality; To find out the socio-economic factors influencing antenatal care service utilization among women aged 15-49 years in Mubende municipality; and to find out the health facility related factors contributing to antenatal care service utilization among women aged 15-49 years in Mubende municipality, Mubende district. Methodology A cross-sectional study design using structured questionnaires combined with in-depth interview guides were used for both quantitative and qualitative data collection respectively. A total of 360 respondents were sampled from Kasaana parish of Mubende municipality. Simple random sampling and systematic random sampling techniques were used. Pearson’s Chi-square test, and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted and statistically significant tests declared at P value ≤ 0.05. Results At P.value <0.05, statistically significant association was established between occupation of the mother, occupation of the spouse, monthly household income, marital status, education level of a mother, spouse involvement and utilization of antenatal care services among women aged 15-49 at (X2=3235.165 df=3 P=0.011), (X 2=484.168 df=3 P=0.031),(X2= 507.633 df=2 P=0.000), (X 2=833.141 df=3 P=0.042), (X 2=273.331 df=3 P=0.002), (X 2=741.112 df=1 P=0.000 ), (X 2=255.712 df=3 P=0.000) respectively. Further statistically significant association was also established between utilization of ANC services and; distance to the Health facility attended for ANC (X 2=247.44 df=1 P=0.015), the mother paying for the services needed (X2=2461.44 df= 1 P=0.001), the behavior of health workers at the facility visited (X 2=834.52 df=1 P=0.043) and the quality of the services provided during ANC visit and utilization of antenatal care services (X 2=517.62 df=2 P=0.001) among women aged 15-49 respectively. Conclusion and recommendation The study found that full ANC services attendance and utilization was generally low (37.2%) thus much sensitization has to be done in Mubende municipality to empower pregnant women and their husbands as to improve ANC attendance and utilization. Educating a girl child beyond primary level and the number of ANC clinic outreaches intensified in order to attract and encourage women to attend antenatal care from as early as the first trimester of pregnancy. It was further established that the main factors affecting antenatal utilization among the women aged 15-49years were; distance to the Health facility attended for ANC, the mother paying for the services needed, the behavior of health workers at the facility visited, the quality of the services provided during ANC visit, occupation of the mother, occupation of the spouse, monthly household income. The study recommended that aantenatal services should be introduced in all health centers at all levels such that accessibility can be made easy by pregnant mothers and transport barriers removed. The government should ensure that all public health facilities provide timely and high-quality antenatal care services so as to enhance ANC services utilization to the mothers