Demographic Factors Associated with Utilization of Antenatal Care Services Among Pregnant Women in Song Local Government Area of Adamawa State

Abstract

The study was designed to investigate the demographic factors associated with the utilization of antenatal care services among pregnant women in Song local government area, Adamawa State. In order to accomplish this purpose, three specific objectives and corresponding research questions were formulated. Three null hypotheses were postulated for the study. Descriptive survey design was employed for this study. Four hundred (400) sample size was determined using Yaro Yamane’s formula for determining sample size of any definite population. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire. Frequencies and percentages were used to answer the research questions, while the hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance at appropriate degree of freedom using chi-square. A total of 300 (73.8%) pregnant women utilized the components of ANC services. The highest ANC services utilized was health education (96.7%) followed by screening (90.5%), routine drugs (80.8%) and physical examination (65.0%) while the lowest ANC services utilization was immunization (35.7%). There was significant difference in the utilization of ANC services among pregnant women based on age and location; and no significant difference based on parity. The researcher recommended among other things that health education and campaign on adequate utilization of antenatal care services (especially physical examination & immunization) should be conducted by health educators and other health care professionals regularly at health centres, schools, churches, social media, among others.