Magnitudes and Determinants of Antenatal Care Utilization among Pregnant Women in East Africa: Evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) from 2010 to 2018
Abstract Introduction: The use of antenatal care (ANC) plays a major role in minimizing maternal and child mortality through effective and appropriate screening, preventive, or treatment intervention. Despite the fact that almost all of the pregnancy-related mortalities are largely preventable through adequate use of ANC, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) particularly East African Countries continues to share the largest share of global maternal, and newborn mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the overall magnitude and determinants of ANC utilization in the 11 East Africa Countries from 2010 to 2018 using recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS)Methods: A secondary data analysis was done based on DHS from 2010 to 2018 in the 11 East African Countries. A total weighted sample of 89,991 women who gave birth in the 5 years preceding each country’s DHS survey were included in this study. Data processing and analysis were performed using STATA 15 software. Multilevel mixed effect logistic regression model was fitted. Model comparison was done based on Akaike and Bayesian Information Criteria (AIC and BIC). Variables with a p-value≤0.05 were declared as significant determinants of ANC utilization.Results: The magnitude of ANC utilization in East African Countries was 53.03% (95% CI: 52.70, 53.35) with the highest ANC utilization in Kenya (57.64%) and the lowest ANC utilization in Comoros (48.99%). In the multivariable multilevel logistic regression model; age 20-24 (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.25; 95% CI; 1.17-1.34), 25-29 AOR = 1.47; 95% CI; 1.37-1.58), 30-34 (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI; 1.47-1.71), 35-39 (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI; 1.50-1.77), 40-44 (AOR = 1.64; 95% CI; 1.49-1.81), 45-49 (AOR = 1.71; 95% CI; 1.51-1.93), primary education (AOR = 1.24; 95% CI; 1.18-1.31), richest wealth index (AOR = 1.57; 95% CI; 1.47-1.67), being in rural resident (AOR = 0.93; 95% CI; 0.88,0.98), have media exposure (AOR = 1.11; 95% CI; 1.07-1.15), and being a Zimbabwe resident (AOR = 2.87; 95% CI; 2.55-3.23) were among factors that are significantly associated with ANC utilization.Conclusion: ANC utilization was low in the East Africa countries. Age, women education, wealth index, birth order, residence, media exposure and living countries were major determinants of ANC utilization. It would be useful to increase financial support strategies that enables mothers from poor households to use health services will be advantageous. To increase women’s understanding of the significance of ANC utilization, health education targeting mothers with no education is very crucial.