Browsing by Author "Asibo, Gift Patrick"

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    Determinants of timely first antenatal care visit among pregnant women in Maracha district, northwestern Uganda – a cross-sectional study
    (Muni University, 2025-11-18) Asibo, Gift Patrick
    Background: Pregnant women should make contacts with professional healthcare providers within twelve weeks of conception, to enable timey screening for pre-existing conditions, danger signs and their management as well as birth preparedness planning. Unfortunately, the proportion of women seeking timely first antenatal care visit has remained universally low, especially in the low and middle-low-income countries. Objective: To examine the factors associated with timely first antennal care visit among pregnant attending antenatal care services in Maracha district. Methodology: In three (03) selected health facilities within Maracha district, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 532 pregnant women. A multistage sampling involving quota sampling followed by simple random sampling was done and participants given informed consent. Quantitative data was collected using a pretested semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaires. Descriptive analysis was done using frequencies and percentages while bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed using a modified Poisson regression. Results: Out of the 532 participants, 165(31%) had timely first antenatal care visit. According to the multivariable analysis, the obstetric characteristic that was significantly associated with timely first antenatal care visit was the history of delivery by caesarean section in recent past pregnancy, aPR=0.548, 95% CI [0.398, 0.755], p<0.001, with a marginal statistical significance for planned pregnancy, aPR=0.687, 95% CI [0.467, 1.009], p=0.055. The health systems characteristics that were significantly associated with timely first antenatal care visit were included having a means of transport, either private or public, aPR=0.596, 95% CI [0.405, 0.877], p=0.009; and frequency of integrated outreaches in their communities, aPR=0.634, 95% CI [0.432, 0.930], p=0.020. Conclusion: Only 31% of timely first Antenatal care visit implies a public health problem in Maracha. Interventions should target awareness creation to impact a positive mindset change about utilization of timely first antenatal care services, as well as improve access to antenatal care services for better pregnancy outcomes in Maracha.