Utilization of Antenatal Care Services in Atwima Nwabiagya District
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Date
2009-07-11
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Abstract
Utilization of health services is a complex behavioral phenomenon. Empirical studies of preventive and curative service have found that the use of health services is related to availabiliy, quality and cost of services as well as to social structure, health beliefs and personal characteristics of the users.
This study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey on the utilization of Antenatal Care Services in Atwima Nwabiagya District of Ghana which was carried out between January and October 2008. The main objective of the study was to assess the utilization of Antenatal Care services. 222 women aged between 15 and 49 years who were randomly sampled from 12 communities in 3 sub districts and who had delivered between 1st January and 31st August 2008 were interviewed.
The major findings of the study indicated that the average age of the majority of the respondents (52.2%) was between the ages 20 – 29 years and 36.5% had trading as their main occupation, 81.5% had had formal education, 68.9% were married, 81.1% had five children or more, 69.8% were Akans and 80.6% were Christians.
All respondents had heard about ANC with 41.9% stating health personnel as their source of information. Over fifty one percent (51.4%) of the respondents knew that pregnant women should report for ANC during the first trimester and 84.2% claimed the expected number of visits was 4.
The major findings in the study indicated that the average age of respondents was 28.0 years, the majority was engaged in trading, and hence income earned had positive impact on ANC utilization.
On the quality of care rendered, 99.0% of the respondents attended ANC with 77.7% using public health facilities. The reason for the choice of place of ANC services included proximity (39.1%), good staff (20.0%), and free services (12.7%). Others were quality services (12.3%), safe delivery (8.6%) and no delays (1.4%).
On accessibility of ANC services, 97.7% of the respondents who utilized ANC services anytime they were pregnant thought that the service was accessible. The main means of transport to the service point was by vehicle, and 66.2% spent less than one Ghana cedi which was mainly paid by their partners.
However, majority of the respondents were attended to by three to four health personnel. It is therefore recommended that focused antena
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Community Health (SMS) University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Public Health(POPULATION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.