Knowledge and Utilization of Antenatal Care Services among Women of Child Bearingin Omi-Adio, Ido Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria has experienced some progress in the last two decades in reducing maternal deaths,
but unfortunately, the number of women that die during pregnancy and childbirth from
complications arising from childbirth remains appallingly high. One of the strategies aimed at
addressing maternal mortality in developing countries is antenatal care (ANC) service, which
is the care a woman receives throughout her pregnancy. Service utilization has been linked to
the clients’ perception of the adequacy and quality of the service provided. This study therefore
designed to assess knowledge and utilization of antenatal services among women of childbearing in Omi Adio, Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State. The cross-sectional study
involved the use of a four-stage sampling technique (consisting of the LGA, wards, communities
and 300 households) was used to select among child-bearing women. A pre-tested semistructured questionnaire was used to collect information on the socio demographic data of the
respondents, knowledge, and utilization of antenatal care. The questionnaire consisted of both
open and close-ended questions. A 14-point knowledge scale was used in assessing
respondents’ knowledge of ANC. A correct knowledge attracted a score of 1 point while a
wrong knowledge was zero. A score of ≤ 7 point was considered poor while scores > 7 were
considered good knowledge. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square
test. Respondents’ age ranged from 16-47 years with a mean age of 28.8 ± 9.3 years. Majority
(78.7%) of respondents were from Yoruba ethnic group, 72.0% were currently married, 9.3%
had tertiary education and 50.3% were traders. The overall mean knowledge score of the
respondents was 5.2 ± 2.0. Majority (90.7%) had a poor knowledge. Many (59.7%) did not
know that pregnant women should commence antenatal care immediately they confirm that
they are pregnant and 64.3% did not know that antenatal care helps in early detection of
complications in pregnancy. The mean knowledge scores of respondents with no formal,
primary, secondary and tertiary education were 4.4 ± 1.3, 4.5 ± 1.5, 5.7 ± 0.5 and 10.0 ± 0.0
points respectively (p=0.00). Majority (78.0%) of the respondents reportedly has access to
antenatal services and 78.0% utilised antenatal care service during the last pregnancy. Among
these, only (9.0%) visited antenatal during the first trimester while 57.7% visited antenatal
during the third trimester. Family members (76.1%) were major source of advice during
pregnancy on ANC. Majority (92.3%) of the respondents made preparation for their delivery
and these included buying of baby’s things (69.3%) and transportation to health facility if
needed to a health facility (23.3%). Some (29.7%) of the respondents’ reported that they prefer
home delivery to hospital and their reasons included attitude of health workers (29.7%) and
that it is comfortable (29.7%). This study found that many of the respondents had a poor
knowledge of antenatal care. However respondents’ with higher educational qualifications
better utilized antenatal care services. Community sensitization programmes aimed at improving child-bearing women’s knowledge should be provided by government and nongovernmental agencies.