Abstract:

Background information: Late Initiation of Antenatal care is the first ANC visit beyond 12 weeks of gestational age of the current pregnancy. World Health Organization recommends that a pregnant woman should first visit within 12 weeks of gestation and below. Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey showed that in Tanzania only 76% of women made their first ANC attendance late after the fourth month of pregnancy .Study done in Dar es Salaam revealed that only 86% of pregnant women started ANC clinics after the third month of pregnancy. Aim of the study is to determine factors and perceptions associated with late initiation of antenatal care among pregnant women attending Makongoro Health centre.

Methodology: In this prospective cross section hospital-based study to determine the factors and perceptions associated with late initiation of antenatal care, pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect demographic data, obstetric background, factors and perceptions associated with late initiation of Antenatal care.

Results: A study enrolled 320 pregnant women, of which 174(54.4%) were prime gravida, and 146(45.6%) were multi gravida and mean age of participants was 24.7 years. The prevalence for late initiation of Antenatal Care among pregnant women was 74.1%. Factors that contributed was poor knowledge, unintended pregnancies but also some women perceived that there is no value in attending early ANC .

Conclusion: Even though WHO recommends all pregnant women to initiate ANC within 12 weeks of gestation still the prevalence for late initiation of ANC is still high in Mwanza region (74.1%). Therefore, intervention efforts should focus on identified factors and more research should be done in order to enhance timely initiation of ANC among pregnant women. This can be done by providing information and education to the community on ANC.