Factors affecting mothers' utilization of antenatal care

ABSTRACT

To assess mothers! knowledge and attitude toward antenatal care, and identify barriers that hinder their utilization of antenatal care. Design: a cross-sectional analytic study. Setting: antenatal care clinics, Ain Shams University, Maternity Hospital. 500 pregnant women were selected through systematic random sampling from pregnant women attending the antenatal clinics for 6 months. The criteria of the sample include pregnant women in the 1st and 2nd trimester, aged from 20-35 years. Data were collected through personal interviewing using a structured interview sheet and a rating scale. the majority [92.2%] of women had positive attitude toward antenatal care, and most of them [72.2%] had satisfactory knowledge. Barriers affecting mothers! utilization of antenatal care included social barriers [32.6%], economic barriers [43%], psychological barriers [20.4%], and setting-related barriers [31.4%]. Women's knowledge and attitude turned to have a statistically significant association [p=0.02]. Perception of barriers was statistically significantly related to women's knowledge and attitude. psychosocial and economic conditions of the women and health services are important determinants of utilization of antenatal care. Nurses should have a more positive role in raising the awareness of women about the importance of antenatal care. They need in-service training programs with updated essential knowledge and practice about ANC services