Barriers to Antenatal Care Utilization among Pregnant Women in a Rural Area in Egypt

Abstract

This study was conducted to measure Knowledge, attitude, practice towards ANC and identify barrier hindering utilization of ANC service among sample of Egyptian women attending Family medicine unit in Bashalosh village, Met Ghamr city in Dakahlia governorate. Data was collected by using interview questionnaire. The study included 342 women; their age ranged between18 and 45 years with a mean of 31.7. Majority of them were housewives, (29.2 %), achieved school education and (51.8%) had an income ranged from 1000- 2000 L.E per month. Concerning ANC during last pregnancy, more than (80%) of women attended ANC, however only (40.9%) had adequate ANC (four visits or more). About (63%) of mothers reported that they received ANC service by doctor and more than fifty percent received ANC service in PHC centers. The current study revealed that only (33.3%) of studied women had a satisfactory knowledge regarding ANC and (39.2%) had a positive attitude towards ANC. The current study showed a statistically significant association between women knowledge and attitude ________________________________ Summary_______________ 128 towards antenatal care. Thus, most of the women with satisfactory knowledge about antenatal care had positive attitude toward antenatal care. Furthermore, satisfactory knowledge and positive attitudes were significantly associated with more utilization of antenatal care. As regard factors affecting utilization of ANC sociodemographic factors as education, occupation of mothers and husbands and family income significantly affected the utilization of ANC, and no significant association between women age and utilization of ANC. Place of last delivery and its outcome and occurrence of complications during purperium were significant factors that affect utilization of ANC. Also social, psychological and ANC process barriers were affecting utilization of ANC. The major barriers for seeking antenatal care during pregnancy as denoted by women were related to economic and social reasons, including low income, ignorance, and lot of children, followed by reasons related to health system like overcrowded, careless nurse, male doctors, whereas the least were the psychological ones. ________________________________ ___________ 129