Delays in accessing antenatal care services in a developing nation tertiary health center

ABSTRACT

Background: Delay in seeking medical care is common and constitutes a major unresolved public health problem. It could contribute immensely to maternal mortality, especially in developing countries, where access and availability of functional health­care facility have remained a challenge. Objective: This study aimed at identifying the forms of delays encountered by pregnant women seeking antenatal care (ANC) services and also factors responsible for such delays. Materials and Methods: This was a cross­sectional study among women attending antenatal care clinic of our hospital. Data were obtained through an interviewer­administered questionnaire and were analyzed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 17. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 28.6 (standard deviation [SD] ± 5.44) years. About a third (31.5%) experienced Type II delays due to inaccessibility to the mode of transportation and traffic deadlock; while majority (77.1%) experienced intrahospital delays due to delay in retrieving cases notes, seeing an obstetrician, inadequate health personnel, and consulting rooms. The average waiting time was 3.1 ± 0.91 SD hours (188 min). The waiting time was not statistically associated with time of arrival to the clinic. Conclusion: Most women experience intrahospital delays while seeking ANC. Intervention by policymakers and adequate staffing coupled with provision of necessary health­care amenities will go a long way in reducing patients waiting time