Patterns and trends of antenatal care and delivery care services utilisation in Uganda, (1995-2011)

Abstract

This study investigated the patterns and trends of Antenatal Care and Delivery care services Utilisation in the recent past in Uganda 1995-2011. The influence of socio-economic and demographic factors on ANC and Delivery care utilization was assessed to see whether it has been consistent in the study period. The demographic factors was Age, and socio economic factors were education, region, wealth index, place of residence and birth order. These factors were the independent factors. The dependent factors were Antenatal care and delivery care.

The study utilized both descriptive and analytical approaches to reach the desired objective. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Cross tabulations were used to investigate the levels or trends of ANC and delivery care services utilization according to demographic factors and socio economic factors. As regards the in depth analysis , multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the socio economic and demographic factors for ANC and Delivery care services utilization.

The findings of the study at all levels of analysis revealed that the percentage of women who received the recommended ANC services was higher in urban areas than in rural areas from 1995 to 2011, this shows that women in rural areas may be facing challenges in accessing the ANC services, like long distances to the health centers. According to the regions, most women in Central region throughout the years (1995-2011) received the recommended ANC visits compared to other regions, and this shows that the services are not fairly distributed among the regions.

It was also revealed that women with birth order one were mostly assisted by qualified health providers during the child birth throughout the years (1995-2011) compared to the women with higher birth orders. Also women who reside in urban areas were assisted by qualified health providers during the child delivery throughout the years compared to those in rural areas, this shows that women in rural areas face challenges of long distances to the health units. To improve on the access of ANC and Delivery care services, policies and recommendations aimed at eradicating socio economic problems should be put in place.