William Angko*, Joseph Kwame Wulifan and Amos Dangbie Dordah
Background/Objectives: In this paper, we aim to examine the influence of maternal antenatal care services utilisation on the prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women in the Wa Municipality.
Method: The study employed a retrospective cohort design. Probability proportionate to size sampling was used to select the sub-district health catchment facilities while systematic random sampling was used to select respondents. Data was collected from 353 women based on the status of ANC utilization.
Results: The results suggest that only gestational age at registration was a significant predictor of anaemia among women at ANC registration. Additionally, the woman’s Hb status at ANC registration, information assistance on family planning at ANC, dietary diversity score were predictors of anaemia at 36 weeks gestation. Beside, Tetanus (TT) intake and religion were not only statistically significant in association with anaemia but predictors as well to anaemia at 28 weeks gestation. Specifically, the prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women at ANC registration, week 28 and week 36 of gestation were found to be 43.7%, 53.4% and 51.4% respectively.
Conclusion/recommendation: The study suggests that if interventions aimed at reducing the burden of prenatal care are not implemented, the benefits of the ANC associated with early and adequate ANC services may not optimally be achieved. Therefore, strategies to improve the uptake of antenatal care services particularly for disadvantaged women should be targeted at specific components of maternal health.
KeywordsAntenatal Care; Utilisation; Services; Prevalence, Anaemia; Pregnancy
Published Date: 2023-02-20; Received Date: 2023-01-22
