article · International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research
An evaluation of antenatal clinic attendance in Mpwapwa District, Tanzania, examined the timing of initial bookings using the ecological model for health promotion. Most pregnant women registered after the recommended first three months of gestation, despite 96.3 percent showing high knowledge regarding booking requirements. Social and economic factors heavily shaped clinic uptake. Over half of the participants required partner permission before attending, and 86 percent relied on partners for financial support. Late attendance was significantly higher, reaching 83.7 percent, among women who lacked partner support. These findings indicate that while awareness of antenatal care is widespread, gender dynamics, restricted decision-making power, and dependence on partners for financial assistance and transport remain key obstacles to early clinic registration.
Early antenatal clinic attendance is essential for monitoring the health of mothers and infants. This study demonstrates that high maternal awareness alone is insufficient to guarantee timely healthcare visits. Addressing gender inequalities, partner permission requirements, and financial reliance is vital for public health authorities seeking to improve maternal health outcomes in rural communities.
The abstract does not indicate an application pathway or any commercialisation potential, as it focuses strictly on an observational public health assessment.
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Abstract Objective: Assessment of antenatal clinic booking using the ecological model for health promotion in Mpwapwa, Tanzania. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was done between May and June 2017 at Mpwapwa District in Tanzania. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21. The analysis involved descriptive statistics to describe the sample population and relevant proportions, in frequency table and cross tabulations between independent and dependent variables; and chi-square test for showing association between study variables during statistical analysis. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The majority of respondents (69.9%) registered at ANC after the recommended three months of pregnancy. Almost all of the respondents (96.3%) had high knowledge of antenatal clinic booking. More than half (59%) of respondents illustrated that it was necessary to get permission from their partners before they started ANC, and more than three-quarters (86%) said that they depended on financial support from their partners. Late booking was significantly high (83.7%, P<0.001) among the respondents who did not get support from their partners. Conclusion: Overall, all levels of the ecological model appear to influence ANC booking among pregnant women. Although the participants indicated high knowledge and positive attitude towards ANC, the subordination of pregnant women in decision-making concerning ANC booking, and dependence on partners for financial support and transportation to ANC might have contributed to late ANC booking.
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DOI: 10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i02.38110
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