Abstract:
Background: Timely initiation of antenatal care is crucial for early detection and can avoid
pregnancy-related health problems and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Only 28% of pregnant
women in Ethiopia had their first antenatal care during the first trimester. The status is worse
in the least developed regions of Ethiopia like Benishangul Gumz.
Objective: To assess the timing of first antenatal care visits and identifies associated factors
among pregnant women attending antenatal care in public health facilities in Pawi district,
North West Ethiopia, 2022.
Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in public health facilities of
Pawi Woreda from June 1 to July 5, 2022. A total of 417 pregnant women visiting public health
facilities for the first time during the index pregnancy were selected by systematic random
sampling. Quantitative data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire and
analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science Version 22.0. Logistic regression was
used to identify the factors associated with the timing of first antenatal care and P- value<0.05
was considered to declare statistically significant. The qualitative key informant interview was
conducted with a total of 10 healthcare providers from all facilities included in the study. The
interviews were voice recorded, transcribed into words, translated to English, and analyzed
thematically.
Result: Slightly greater than four out of ten (43.9%, 95%CI: 38.7, 48.3) women have made
their first antenatal care visits at 16 weeks or earlier. Thus planned pregnancy (AOR = 3.61,
95% CI: 1.13, 8.02), rural area (AOR=0.02, 95% CI=0.01, 0.16), nulliparous (AOR= 2.64,
95%CI, 1.40, 11.64) and housewives (AOR=0.40; 95% CI: 0.39, 0.86) were significantly
associated with the timing of first antenatal care. If lack of knowledge importance of ANC,
socio-cultural beliefs, and household economic status were barriers or facilitators of the timing
of the first ANC visit.
Conclusions: Low proportion of pregnant women have attended antenatal care visits in the
recommended schedule being associated with no formal education, being a housewife, rural
resident, nulliparous, having an unplanned pregnancy, having knowledge of healthcare
providers, and having a household income.
