Perceived Factors Influencing Delay in Attending Antenatal Care Clinic among Expectant Mothers in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria

Antenatal care is a key strategy for reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in Nigeria because adequate utilization of antenatal health care services is associated with improved maternal and neonatal health outcomes. However, some expectant mothers delay the utilization of these health care services, hence, the need to investigate the social factors causing their delay. This cross-sectional descriptive survey examined the factors associated with delay in the utilization of Antenatal Care Services among pregnant women in Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. The sample size consists of 400 pregnant women which cut across a public hospital and three private clinics that are not in close proximity to one another. Specific objectives include: to determine if expectant mothers in Anyigba, Kogi State attend Antenatal Care Clinic early (that is, in their first trimester which is before 14 weeks of gestation), to establish factors responsible for delay in attending Antenatal Care, to identify perceived benefits of Antenatal Care services and to explore the perceived consequences for delay in attending Antenatal Care among expectant mothers. The study made use of primary data. The questionnaire method was used to gather the needed data. Descriptive statistical method was used to analyze the data generated and hypotheses were tested using multiple linear regression and level of significance was set at 5% (0.05).The Findings from the study revealed among others, that expectant mothers in Anyigba delay in attending Antenatal Care Clinic and that majority of the respondents agreed that cost, long waiting time during Antenatal Care visit, attitudes of the expectant mothers are major factors influencing delay in the utilization of Antenatal Care Clinic in Anyigba, Kogi State. The study also found that delay in attending Antenatal Care Clinic come with consequences such as poor opportunity to monitor pregnancy, general complications and detection of diseases. Socio demographic factors, the perceived benefits of Antenatal Care (ANC), and the knowledge of the consequences associated with delay in attending ANC significantly influenced the utilization of ANC in Anyigba, Kogi State. The study concludes that, delayed Antenatal Care visit is dangerous to both the health of the expectant mother and that of the unborn child. Hence to reduce the risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, expectant mothers should be encouraged through the policy developments and governments interventions to book early for Antenatal Care within the first trimester of their pregnancy as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and that government and non-governmental institutions should increase enlightenment drive on both the benefits of early antenatal attendance and the consequences of delayed or non antenatal attendance.