Browsing by Author "GENET TESFAMICHAEL"

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    DETERMINANTS OF LATE INITIATION OF ANTENATAL CARE CONTACT AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN HEALTH FACILITIES OF MEKELLE, TIGRAY, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA, 2024
    (Mekelle University, 2025-02-25) GENET TESFAMICHAEL
    Background: Late antenatal care is the most common issue in developing countries, including Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, 72% of pregnant women come late for their first antenatal care contact. Late antenatal care initiation is more likely to be linked to poor perinatal health outcomes. Where the effects of late antenatal care initiation are significant in Ethiopia, a scarcity of data hinders for understanding of its determinants. Objective: To identify determinants of late initiation of antenatal care contact among pregnant women in health facilities of Mekelle, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia,2024. Method: Facility based unmatched case control study was conducted in health facilities of Mekelle, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia, from 7 August -5 September, 2024. The data were collected using pre-tested structured questionnaire. In this study 592 study participants (296 cases and 296 controls) were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Cases to controls ratio was 1 to 1. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to identify determinants of late antenatal care initiation and adjusted odds ratio with corresponding 95% confidence interval was used to measure strength of association. Statistical significance was declared at 𝑃-value <0.05. Result: A total of 592 study participants were included in the study with 98% response rate. Low educational level [AOR=5.60;95%CI:2.766-11.357], recognizing pregnancy by missed period [AOR=2.552; 95%CI:1.588-4.102], unplanned pregnancy [AOR=3.216; 95%CI:1.934-5.347], not accompanied by their husband to ANC contact [AOR=4.306; 95%CI:2.757-6.726] and poor knowledge of the mothers about ANC [AOR=2.049; 95%CI: 1.326-3.168] were identified as determinants of late initiation of ANC among pregnant women. Conclusion and recommendation: Low educational level, recognizing pregnancy by missed period, unplanned pregnancy, not accompanied by their husband to ANC contact and poor knowledge of the mothers about ANC were identified as determinants of late initiation of ANC among pregnant women. Therefore, Health offices and healthcare providers should focus on increasing awareness to improve women's knowledge on ANC services, and to support spouse involvement in ANC.