Disparities in antenatal care service utilization among food secure and food insecure women in Gombora Woreda, Hadiya Zone, South Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Little is known about antenatal care utilisation difference among food secure and food insecure household pregnant women and factors contributing to inequities in antenatal care use in Gombora woreda Hadiya zone south Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to identify the disparities in the utilization of ANC that exists between pregnant women in food secure and food insecure household women Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from Feb 25 to March 25, 2015 in Gombora woreda, Hadiya zone, South Ethiopia. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted. Statistical tests were done at a level of significance of p < 0.05 Results: Of 796 sampled mothers, data were collected from 774 mothers giving a response rate of 97%. Two hundred sixty seven (34.5%) of the respondents had at least one antenatal care visit on current pregnancy. 49.1% of food secure and 23.3% of food insecure household women utilized ANC from health professionals. The odds of antenatal care use were 2.54(95% CI: 1.79- 3.59, p < 0.001) times higher among women from food secure household pregnant women than those from food insecure. The odds of antenatal care use among women with secondary or higher education was 3. 76(95% CI: 2.32-6.1, p < 0.001) times higher when compared with women of no education. The odds of antenatal care use were 2.42(95%CI 1.348-4.334, p < 0.003) times higher among women with good knowledge than poor knowledge women. Moreover, the odds of use among women from the richest households were 2.10(95% CI: 1.347- 3.286, p < 0.001) times higher compared with their counterparts from the poorest households. Furthermore, this study showed a significant variation in the use of ANC in food secure and food insecure household pregnant women. Conclusions: The disparities in antenatal care utilization among food secure and food insecure households, across economic and educational levels highlight the need to put more attention to food insecure household’s pregnant women. In addition further study suggested understanding additional factors for the low antenatal utilization among food secure and insecure household pregnant women in Gombora Woreda, Hadiya Zone, South Ethiopia