Predictors of Antenatal Care Booking among Pregnant Women in Lower River Region, The Gambia

• Main Authors: Basiru Drammeh, 巴奇諾
• Other Authors: Chia-Jung Hsieh
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/792dd2

碩士 === 國立臺北護理健康大學 === 護理研究所 === 103 === Background: The late ANC booking in Sub-Saharan Africa could be a factor hindering timely diagnosis or identification of complication during pregnancy which may get worse as pregnancy is progressing. This can cause mortality either during pregnancy, childbirth or postpartum contributing to high maternal mortality in these region. Aim: The aim of study was to explore the factors influencing antenatal care booking among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Lower River region of The Gambia. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted at base and outreach clinics in LRR of The Gambia. A convenient sampling was used and sample of 238 women between the ages of 13-45 were recruited for the study. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS software version 18.0. Results: The mean gestational age (weeks) for antenatal care booking was 22.58±6.96. Majority of the respondents (61.80%) booked in the second trimester of the pregnancy. Most of the women (97.90%) have high knowledge on antenatal care and have strong cultural belief on antenatal care. The women whose husbands have attained higher education booked earlier for antenatal care than those who are not educated (F = 4.67, p < .05). It was find out that the respondents who attended base clinic tended to book earlier for antenatal care compare to those who attend outreach clinic. Difficulty in getting national identification card have shown significant difference in antenatal care booking with (F=-2.16, p < .05). It was also found out that women who have high wellbeing booked early for antenatal care than those who have low wellbeing. The study findings revealed that majority of the mothers (80.25%) have high wellbeing and booked earlier for antenatal care than those who have low wellbeing. The multivariate logistic analysis showed that wellbeing contributed most to the antenatal care booking among all the variables and considered as the major predictor of antenatal care booking (OR=0.65, p-value < .001). Conclusion: The study revealed that mothers who have low wellbeing were more likely to book for antenatal care late than those who have high wellbeing. There is a need to incorporate mental health attention in routine antenatal care services and screen mothers for wellbeing on their first antenatal care visit and give support and care to those mothers who have low wellbeing for desirable pregnancy outcome. Future Application: It is hoped that the findings of the study will enable ministry of health and health management team particularly at Lower River Region to design policies in addressing the identified barriers to antenatal care booking. Finally, the results of this study will also give valuable information for future education, planning, interventions and studies for ANC services.