Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 6(2), pp. 49 - 55
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2018.060203
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The Factors Associated with the Delayed First Antenatal Care in the Philippines

Hanna Horiguchi ^*, Minato Nakazawa
Department of International Health, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe University, Japan

ABSTRACT

The maternal mortality ratio has decreased in many countries since 2000, but in the republic of the Philippines. World Health Organization recommends that the standards of antenatal care (ANC) should start as early as possible in the first trimester, while only 63.4% of pregnant women began the ANC within the first trimester. This study aimed to clarify socio-economic status and current situation regarding pregnancy, and to explore the factors associated with the timing of the first ANC in Leyte by comparing the women who took first ANC within first trimester (early ANC group) with the women whose first ANC delayed after 4 months of pregnancy (late ANC group). We visited 108 women who had pregnancy experience by opportunistic sampling and conducted the semi-structured interview. The early ANC group and the late ANC group were 76 and 27 respectively. Only one person did not take any ANC and 4 people did not remember the timing of first ANC. Monthly income and consultation with husband significantly differed between 2 groups. Around 15% women did not have accurate knowledge about determining pregnancy. In conclusion, it is necessary to spread the right and practical information about pregnancy and antenatal care in the community.

KEYWORDS
Timing of First Antenatal Care, Exploratory Study, Semi-structured Interview, the Republic of the Philippines

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Hanna Horiguchi , Minato Nakazawa , "The Factors Associated with the Delayed First Antenatal Care in the Philippines," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 49 - 55, 2018. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2018.060203.

(b). APA Format:
Hanna Horiguchi , Minato Nakazawa (2018). The Factors Associated with the Delayed First Antenatal Care in the Philippines. Universal Journal of Public Health, 6(2), 49 - 55. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2018.060203.