Late Initiation of Antenatal Care and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Southeast Ethiopia

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) also known as prenatal care given for women during pregnancy, and it is important for both maternal and fetal health. Pregnant women with late initiation of antenatal care are more likely to attain poor outcomes of pregnancy. Therefore; this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of late initiation of antenatal care and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care unit in Goba town, southeast Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1 to April 28/2018 among 379 pregnant women. Systematic sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected using interview based pre tested and structured questionnaire. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 20; bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used. Bivariate analysis was carried out to examine the relationship between dependent and independent variables of the study; in addition, multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out to see independent effect of the predictor variables on the dependent variable by adjusting the effect of potential confounding variables. Adjusted Odds ratio with 95% CI was used to show strength of association between dependent and predictor variables. Result: .Out of 379 pregnant mothers included in the study, 232(61.2%) pregnant women had started their first antenatal care (ANC) early in the first trimester, while the remaining 147(38.8%) pregnant mothers had started late. Educational level of respondents, monthly income, and obstetrics history of stillbirth were significantly associated with late initiation of first ANC among pregnant mothers. Conclusion: In this study a high occurrence of late initiation of ANC was found among pregnant women compared other studies conducted in Ethiopia. Factors such as no formal education, monthly income of <= 400 EB, and no obstetrics history of stillbirth were significantly associated with higher level of late initiation of first ANC among pregnant women. So, timely strategic actions should be implemented by government as well non-governmental stake holders at predictors’ of late early initiation of first ANC