Factors Influencing Adolescent Utilization of Antenatal Care Services in Amenfi West District of the Western Region

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescent pregnancies are high risk obstetric occurrences. Antenatal care (ANC) provides opportunities to recognize and treat obstetric complications, enhancing the pregnancy outcomes for mothers and babies. Objective: The purpose of the study is to identify factors influencing adolescents' utilization of ANC services in Amenfi West. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive research design was adopted, using structured questionnaire to collect data. Purposive, non-probability sampling was used to collect data from 180 pregnant adolescents’ and adolescent nursing mothers from antenatal clinics and postnatal clinics. Factors such as socio-economic and demographic, knowledge about ANC, quality of ANC services, were examined to ascertain if they influence adolescent mothers' utilization of ANC. Data analysis was carried out using STATA and results presented in a form of tables, graphs chart. A Chi- square test was done between the independent variable and the dependent variable. The P value is interpreted based on a 95% confidence level. Results: The findings show that all respondents have visited antenatal clinic but only 97 (53.9%) made 4 or more ANC visit attendance. There was a significant association between staff attitude and antenatal clinic attendance (p<0.05=0.003). Factors influencing antenatal clinic attendance included: unplanned pregnancy, financial constraints, and distance to ANC service points. Majority of the respondents 123 (68.3%) had their first ANC attendance in their second trimester. Out of this number about 69 (56.1%) had 4 or more ANC visits as compared to only 28 (49.1%) in those who visited ANC in their first trimester. Conclusion: All respondents had at least one ANC visit. Attitude of staff in Amenfi West District toward adolescent pregnant women was adjudged as poor. Most of the adolescents also attributed the poor utilization of the services to the poor attitude of staff or midwifes towards them. Most adolescent stay far away from service points and would have to walk a distance to get there. Others pay not less than 1 GH cedis for transportation and the source of money for transportation is provided by the adolescent themselves.