Determinants of Antenatal Care Utilization Among Women of Child Bearing Age Attending Antenatal Clinic at Hadejia General Hospital

Vollständiger Abstract

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This study assessed the determinants of antenatal care (ANC) utilization among women of childbearing age attending the antenatal clinic at Hadejia General Hospital, Jigawa State, Nigeria. Findings indicated a high level of awareness of ANC services, with 90.9% of respondents reporting awareness, compared with 9.0% who were unaware. Hospitals (54.8%) and radio (36.0%) were the major sources of information. Overall, 86.4% of respondents utilized ANC during pregnancy, while 9.0% did not attend and 4.5% attended irregularly. Social media was also an important source of maternal health information, with 81.2% of respondents reporting exposure. Facebook (50.3%), WhatsApp (27.0%), and TikTok (18.0%) were the most frequently used platforms. Despite the high utilization rate, financial difficulties remained the leading barrier to ANC attendance. Cultural beliefs (31.5%), inadequate awareness (22.5%), limited accessibility to health facilities (41.3%), and service costs (9.0%) were additional challenges. Regarding health insurance, 45.8% of respondents had coverage, while 45.1% were not covered and 9.0% were unaware of available schemes. More than half (52.6%) utilized health insurance services. Furthermore, 77.4% reported completing the recommended ANC visits, while 59.3% commenced ANC during the first trimester. The study concludes that ANC awareness and utilization were generally high; however, financial, cultural, insurance, and accessibility barriers continue to influence utilization. Strengthening maternal health education through healthcare facilities, radio, and social media, while improving affordable and accessible services and health insurance coverage, is recommended.