Factors Influencing Antenatal Care Utilization in Koshi Province, Nepal

Vollständiger Abstract

Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit?

Antenatal care as a part of the proper maternal healthcare procedure, especially as regards improving maternal health and proposing to the offspring. This paper attempts to analyze the determinants of ANC service utilization throughout Koshi Province of Nepal because of data from the NDHS conducted in Nepal. It used a stratified two-stage cluster sampling design, and logistic regression analysis to assess the influence of demographic and socioeconomic factors on ANC attendance. The key indicators are that younger mothers (20-24 and 30-49) have higher odds of ANC utilization as opposed to those aged below 20, hence underpinning the importance for very specific maternal health status. Affiliation with religion is implicated by the frequent use of antenatal care services, where women from religious denominations other than Hinduism show higher odds for antenatal care visits. Furthermore, caste and ethnicity show variations, where those women originating Muslim or Other Terai ethnicities have lower utilization rates for antenatal care. Residential location, in the rural setting, has been identified in the current study as being associated with a lower level of contact between the provided ANC care because of their limited access. The economic situation also has a considerably influential effect upon the level of ANC use, while those women who are within the poorer and middle wealth quintiles may undergo antenatal checks more often compared to the wealthiest group. Future research should target the various determinants, including healthcare provider attitudes and women's autonomy in decision-making, and hence provide for a more effective, collaborative session that involves improvement of mother and child health services in Nepal.