Proportion of late initiation of Antenatal Care service and its associated factors at govermental health institutions, Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia:Institutional based cross sectional study.

Abstract

Abstract Background: Antenatal care is a care for pregnant women with the aim of preventing, detecting and treating health problems in both the fetus and mother. Late initiation of antenatal care attendance confines early detection and treatment of complications. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of late initiation of antenatal care visit and associated factors among pregnant women. Methods: Facility based cross sectional study was conducted from April 01 to May 30, 2021 on 612 participants.The study participants were selected by systematic random sampling technique. Data was coded, entered and cleaned in Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to Statistical package for social sciences version 23 software for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was done. Variables with P<0.25 in the bivariate analysis were included in to multivariate logistic regression model and statistical significance was declared at P< 0.05. Results: In this study proportion of late initiation of antenatal care visit was 42.3 % [95% CI: 38.6 %,46.4 %].Respondents educational status of secondary school [AOR= 12.10, 95% CI: 2.50, 21.32], husbands' educational status of secondary school [AOR=4.27, 95% CI: 1.20, 13.78], current health problem [AOR= 2.65, 95% CI: 1.40, 10.04] and awareness about danger signs of pregnancy [AOR=10.1; 95% CI: 5.6, 18.20] were significant factors. Conclusion: In this study late initiation of antenatal care visit was most important public health issue. Women and their husbands’ educational status, awareness on danger signs of pregnancy and health problem in current pregnancy were significant factors. Responsible bodies should create awareness of danger sign of pregnancy and improve women education by strengthening adult education in the community.