Determinants of Antenatal Care Utilization Among Women of Child Bearing Age Attending Antenatal Clinic at Hadejia General Hospital

Abstract

This study assessed the determinants of antenatal care (ANC) utilization among women of childbearing age attending the antenatal clinic at Hadejia General Hospital, Jigawa State, Nigeria. Findings indicated a high level of awareness of ANC services, with 90.9% of respondents reporting awareness, compared with 9.0% who were unaware. Hospitals (54.8%) and radio (36.0%) were the major sources of information. Overall, 86.4% of respondents utilized ANC during pregnancy, while 9.0% did not attend and 4.5% attended irregularly. Social media was also an important source of maternal health information, with 81.2% of respondents reporting exposure. Facebook (50.3%), WhatsApp (27.0%), and TikTok (18.0%) were the most frequently used platforms. Despite the high utilization rate, financial difficulties remained the leading barrier to ANC attendance. Cultural beliefs (31.5%), inadequate awareness (22.5%), limited accessibility to health facilities (41.3%), and service costs (9.0%) were additional challenges. Regarding health insurance, 45.8% of respondents had coverage, while 45.1% were not covered and 9.0% were unaware of available schemes. More than half (52.6%) utilized health insurance services. Furthermore, 77.4% reported completing the recommended ANC visits, while 59.3% commenced ANC during the first trimester. The study concludes that ANC awareness and utilization were generally high; however, financial, cultural, insurance, and accessibility barriers continue to influence utilization. Strengthening maternal health education through healthcare facilities, radio, and social media, while improving affordable and accessible services and health insurance coverage, is recommended.