Antenatal care (ANC) is a
care given for pregnant woman before delivery in order to promote health of
mother and fetus. It helps to cope with problems by making early detection and
providing appropriate care and treatment. Antenatal care is one of the pillars
of the Safe Motherhood Strategies that increases the chance of using a skilled
attendant at birth; which in turn can reduce maternal morbidity and maternal
mortality .
Globally millions of women
and newborns suffer from illness related to pregnancy and childbirth each year
with 800 women die every day. In 2010 alone, there were an estimated of 287000
maternal deaths, of which 99% occurred in developing regions, 56% of maternal
deaths were occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa. Worldwide, adult lifetime risk of
maternal mortality rate was 1 in 180. The intended objective of achieving the Millennium
Development Goal (MDG) was not met; especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Most
of maternal deaths which are occurred in sub Saharan Africa could have been
prevented by increasing the utilization of maternity care. Unexpected high
maternal mortality in developing countries is due to both the nonavailability
of services and poor utilization the available services.
According to Ethiopian
Demography and Health Survey (EDHS) 2011 results, the maternal mortality ratio
(MMR) for Ethiopia was 676 deaths per 100,000 live births, which is nearly the
same with EDHS 2005. In 2010, the maternal death was estimated to be 350 per
100,000 live births and the lifetime risk of maternal mortality was 1 in 67.
The percentage change in MMR between 1990 and 2010 was 64.The ANC coverage of
Ethiopia was 34%, out of which 11% of the users got it during first trimester
and 19% received the recommended four or more ANC visits. In Amhara region,
only 33.6% women were receiving antenatal care from a skilled provider, 7% from
health extension worker, while 59.1% did not receive it at all.
We assessed the association
of dependent and independent variable by using simple regression model followed
by multiple regression models. Our simple logistic analysis showed that
educational status, occupation, planned pregnancy, perceived importance of
antenatal care, monthly family expenditure, women’s
decision-making power, experience of abortion and stillbirth and knowledge
of mother on pregnancy related health problems showed significance association.
Then we put variables those showed p-value of <0.25 into multiple logistic
regression model to rule out confounder/s. The result of multiple analysis
showed that educational status of the mother, her occupation, household’s
monthly income, mother’s perception, planning of pregnancy, mother’s
empowerment and prior experience of stillbirth had significant association with
ANC utilization.
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