Knowledge, Attitude and Utilization of Antenatal Care in Rural Areas of Tangail district, Bangladesh: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) visit helps identify pregnancy danger signs among pregnant women and promote healthy behaviors for safer pregnancy and childbirth. In Bangladesh, recommended four times ANC visits are still below targets especially in rural areas. The objectives of this study is to estimate the level of knowledge and attitudes regarding antenatal care and utilization rates of regular ANC visit during past pregnancy among married women of reproductive age. Methodology: A community-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted in Basail Upazila under Tangail district. A total of 277 women were selected in this study from their respective households following convenient purposive sampling methods with a non-response rate of less than 5%. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data using face to face interview method. Data entry and analysis was done by using SPSS software version 20 and Microsoft Excel. Results: The result showed that among 277 participants, 88.4% of the women were educated and 85.35% respondent was regular in ANC visit during their last pregnancy. Of the 277 participants, 27.40% received ANC less than 4 times, 44.40% received 4 times, 17% of respondents received more than 4 times and 11.2 % did not took ANC service at all during their last pregnancy. In binary logistic regression, respondents between 25-34 years, (AOR=0.07, 95% C.I= 2.90-3.48), at least had some formal schooling women (AOR = 6.05, 95% of C.I = 2.04-15.06) and respondent’s knowledge about contraception’s (AOR = 6.24, 95% of C.I =1.97-19.73). 88.1% were housewife and 68.6% respondent had community based clinic located within close proximity of their household and 45.5% had dome delivery. Conclusions: Utilization of ANC services was higher in the study area due to mother's education, available community clinic and health care service provider. So, therefore, it is important to strengthen and increase ANC service at all levels in that selected area to reduce maternal mortality and other complication during pregnancy.