Early Antenatal Care Contact and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Sendafa Town Public Health Facilities, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Early Antenatal care contact is used within 12 weeks of pregnancy, which is given to pregnant women for prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of general medical and pregnancy related complications. Failure to attend early antenatal care contact results in the potential for complications during pregnancy and delivery. Objective: To assess early Antenatal care contact and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Sendafa town public Health facilities, Ethiopia, 2024 Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. Systematic random sampling was used to select 411 pregnant women attending antenatal care in Sendafa town public health facilities.Interviewer administered structured questionnaire was used and descriptive statistics like mean, frequency, proportion and standard deviation were summarized the data. Data entry done into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25.0 for analysis. Bivariable and Multivariable logistic regression methods were used to analyze the data. Variables with p- value< 0.25 at bivariate analysis transferred to multivariable logistic regression and a P-value <0.05 at 95% CI has been set as cut of point to show the association between independent variables and outcome variable. Results:From a total of 411 pregnant women recruited, 403 pregnant women were responded to the questionnaire with the response rate of 98%. This study found that 44% (39%-47% at 95% CI) of the study respondents attended early antenatal care contact within12 weeks of gestation.Planned pregnancy (AOR, 21.69(2.42-94.08), Previous history of obstetric problem (AOR, 38.03(4.86-49.33), household monthly income less than 6000 (AOR, 0.34(0.12-0.93), women who have a knowledge on early ANC Contact (AOR, 10.99 (5.37-22.50), diagnosed for current pregnancy complication (AOR, 9.195 (2.75-30.80),women who have less than four family size (AOR,0.34 (0.12-0.93), Age<35 (AOR=0.33 (0.11-0.98) were variables significantly associated with early antenatal care contact. Conclusion and Recommendation: The proportion of early ANC contactwas low, Age, previous history of obstetric problem, women‟s knowledge on Early ANC Contact, planned pregnancy, household monthly income and current pregnancy complication were significant with early antenatal care contact. Improving women‟s knowledge and strengthened health education on early antenatal care contact is vital and promotion of family planning to reduce unplanned pregnancy