Abstract:

Background: Antenatal clinic (ANC) is a clinic where a pregnant women receives services during pregnancy through a series of consultations with trained health care workers such as midwives, nurses or doctors who specialize in pregnancy and birth. The ANC services are usually grouped into booking and follow-up visits. The booking visit offers the midwife/clinician the opportunity to assess the health status of the expectant mother and unborn baby. Mothers who miss antenatal clinic booking may also miss important services such as management of obstetric complications including preeclampsia, tetanus toxoid and identification and management of infections including human immune virus (HIV), syphilis and other sexual transmitted infections (STIs).

Objectives: This study describes factors associated with antenatal clinic booking among pregnant women.

Methodology: This was a hospital based cross-sectional study. A random sampling technique was used to recruit 206 pregnant women. Data were collected using a semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire.

Results: A total of 280 respondents participated in the study. Majority of respondents (69.9%) registered at ANC after three months of pregnancy. This is due to the fact that most of the respondents were living in a distance of more than five kilometers to reach ANC and also majority of them were using foot as mean transport. Moreover, 39.8% of respondents reported that, they were waiting for more than an hour to get ANC services. This long waiting time was due to inadequate staffs which was observed during data collection; only one trained nurses was allocated to provide services from 40 to 50 pregnant women per day.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the overall proportion of late booking was high. Some of the reasons for late booking could be long walking distance to ANC, Subordination of pregnant women on decision making concerning ANC booking, and dependence on partner for financial issues.

Recommendation: It is important to provide community based information, education and communication on antenatal care. In addition, emphasis on the best time to start ANC is mandatory at all levels of health facilities.