Benefits of Antenatal Care Utilization: The Knowledge of Pregnant Women, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2015

Abstract

Antenatal Care means care before birth and includes education, counseling, screening and treatment to monitor and to promote the well - being of the mother and fetus. The aim of this study is to assess knowledge of pregnant women regarding the benefits of Antenatal care in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.   Cross-sectional study was conducted among 405 pregnant women from March to April, 2015. Participants were interviewed using structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the study variables. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the relative effect of determinants. AP<0.05 was considered statistically significant in all tests of significance. From total of 405 women interviewed 59.3 percent of them were found to have good knowledge about ANC services. Education level, partner support were found to have good Knowledge towards ANC  and previous history of health care for recent pregnancy was determinant of knowledge to war utilization of ANC. Participants Knowledge of ANC and their knowledge on certain aspects of antenatal care were still poor.  . As a long term strategy to reaching all segments of the population, women empowerment through education and income generating activities as well as with involvement of husbands during information education and communication would have to be intensified on ANC programs.

Keywords: Knowledge, pregnant women, ANC, Addis Ababa.

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/60-04

Publication date:March 31^st 2019