The determinant factors affecting the attendance of antenatal care service in Manikhel village, Nepal

Abstract

This study aims to identify the coverage of antenatal care and to determine factors affecting the attendance of ANC service among pregnant women. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study was conducted in Manikhel village of Napal, Lalitpur district between July 15 to August 2, 1994. The target population consisted of all women aged between 15-45 years. Two hundred sixty four cases were interviewed by trained interviewers using structured questionnaire. The study findings showed that antenatal care coverage of pregnant women was 50.4% in Manikhel village. Analysis revealed that age< education, caste, type of family, family annual income, gravida, present obstetric complications, distance of MCH clinic, availability of ANC service, service cost for ANC, pink card, impression on health personnel had significant difference (p<.001) between ANC attendance. It also showed the significant difference (p<.001) between score of knowledge, attitude, and practice on ANC and ANC attendance. The multiple logistic regression analysis results indicated that the following independent variables were the major factors affecting the ANC attendance : (1) Pink card, (2) Type of family, (4) Travel cost, (5) Impression on health personnel, (6) Score of knowledge on ANC, (7) Score of attitude towards ANC and (8) Score of practice on ANC. Therefore, four recommendations are proposed to health planners. 1. It is must to use pink card in every pregnant woman. 2. The lower socioeconomic groups should be given more priority. 3. The health care system should be make easily accessible. 4. A close relationship between health personnel and pregnant women should be established in order to achieve better ANC coverage. With the achievements of these goals a better maternal and child health is expected in the future.