Innocent Ssemanda*, Kalembe Brenda, Riri Johnson Vonje, Karen Mwengwe, Okwadi Tukei, Oluseye A Ogunbayo
Background: The world health organization increased the number of Antenatal Care (ANC) visits from four (4) to eight (8) contact visits or more, to reduce the exponentiated incidences of preventable deaths of newborns, maternal mortality, perinatal, and stillbirths. Previous studies have indicated that pregnant women are noncompliant and non-adherence to the new model of eight-antenatal care contacts recommended by WHO. Unfortunately, the literature documented the acceptability of the eight antenatal care contacts in low resource-setting countries is scanty.
Methodology: This was a hospital-based medical records observational cross-section study design, that used a multi-stage-strati ied sampling technique to collect data from eligible women, antenatal progressive examination cards, and ANC registers, a ter obtaining ethical approval. A questionnaire survey and checklist were used to collect the data on the acceptability of the 8-ANC from January to April 2022. 401 eligible full-term pregnant and postnatal women were invited to participate in the study, and Informed consent was obtained.
Results: 401 eligible full-term pregnant and postnatal women participated in the study, out of which 101 (25.2%) were postnatal women 300 (74.8%) were full-term pregnant women and they had a mean age of 24.8 years, with an SD of 6.31 years. 193 (48.13%) were married while 208 (51.87) were not married. The average number of ANC 2 visits a pregnant could accept to complete was 4 contacts. The level of acceptability to complete the 8-ANC visits was 27 (6.73%) among the primigravida group at estimate of (-.222, at 95% CI (-.328, -.116), P=0.001)), and 19 (4.74%) among the multigravida group at estimate of 2.04 %, 95% CI (3.811, 4.184), P-value=0.001.
The predictor variables of the acceptability of 8-ANC visits were health system delay at ANC was .0384%, 95% CI; (-.073, -0343), P-value=0.003, gestation age at which ANC started .153%, 95%; (-.252, -.054), P-value=0.002. The level of income a woman has 2.025%, 95% CI; (3.001 1.047), Pvalue= 0.001, and the level of awareness about the completion of the the 8-ANC visit 1.413, 95% CI; (1.998 3.828), P-value=0.001.
Conclusion: The level of acceptability to complete the 8-ANC visits or more was Low at Kasangati health centre IV, and this was in luenced by; health system delay at ANC, high gestation age (delay to start ANC service), level of income, and lack of awareness about the completion of the 8-ANC visits. These factors should be addressed in the social community to scale-up acceptability to complete the 8-ANC contacts or more. Among full-term pregnant and postnatal women in Wakiso district.
Published Date: 2025-01-10; Received Date: 2023-07-13