Socio-economic and Demographic Determinants of Antenatal Care Services Utilization in Central Nepal
Background/Objective: The importance of maternal health services in lessening maternal mortality and morbidity as well as neonatal deaths has received substantial recognition in the past decade. The lack of antenatal care has been identified as a risk factor for maternal mortality and other advers...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Global Health and Education Projects, Inc.
2014-09-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://mchandaids.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Socioeconomic-and-Demographic-Determinants-of-ANC-Utilization-in-Central-Nepal.pdf |
| Summary: | Background/Objective: The importance of maternal health services in lessening maternal mortality
and morbidity as well as neonatal deaths has received substantial recognition in the past decade. The lack
of antenatal care has been identified as a risk factor for maternal mortality and other adverse pregnancy
outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors affecting attendance of antenatal care
services in Nepal.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in Central Nepal. Using semi-structured
questionnaire, interviews were conducted with married women aged between 15-49 years, who had
delivered their babies within one year. Systematic random sampling method was used to select the
sample. Results were obtained by frequency distribution and cross-tabulation of the variables.
Results: More than half of the women were not aware of the consequences of lack of antenatal care.
Age, education, income, type of family were strongly associated with the attendance at antenatal care
service.
Conclusions and Public Health Implications: In Nepal and in other developing countries, maternal
mortality and morbidity continue to pose challenges to the health care delivery system. Variety of factors
including socio-demographic, socio-economic, cultural and service availability as well as accessibility
influences the use of maternal health services. |
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| ISSN: | 2161-8674 2161-864X |