Assessment of Factors Influencing Tardiness and Poor-Compliance with ANC at Mwembeladu Hospital in Zanzibar, 2024
Rodolfo Isidro Bosch Bayard
Department of Internal Medicine, State University of Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Chukwuma J. Okafor
*
Department of Pathology, State University of Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Diane Millo Martin
Department of Physiology, State University of Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Nibras M. Hilal
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lumumba Hospital, Tanzania.
Tarik A. Khamis
Department of Medicine, ICS-Royal Hospital, Tanzania.
Asila M. Haji
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tanga Regional Hospital, Tanzania.
Rayyan J. Ali
Department of Medicine, Mnazi Mmoja, Hospital, Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Angel Badia Saiz
Department of Family Medicine, Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu
Department of Biomedical and Laboratory Science, Africa University, Zimbabwe.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is vital for maternal and infant health, yet women in Zanzibar frequently delay their first ANC visit and struggle with adherence to visits to ANC. This study investigates the socio-demographic factors contributing to these delays. It will describe pregnancy characteristics and assess the timing of the first ANC consultations.
Methodology: The research employed a descriptive cross-sectional design at Mwembeladu Hospital, targeting pregnant women receiving ANC. Simple random sampling was used to gather data from 260 participants, with analysis focusing on socio-demographic factors and their impact on ANC attendance.
Results: The majority of participants were multigravida (75.8%), and a significant portion attended their first antenatal care (ANC) visit during the second trimester (54.2%). Notably, despite a high level of education among participants, there was no correlation between educational attainment and timely ANC attendance. Similarly, marital status and partner support did not significantly impact the timing of ANC visits.
Conclusion: This study highlights that many women in Zanzibar experience delays in antenatal care (ANC) attendance and have a low number of ANC visits, primarily due to the influence of multigravidity. Nearly half of the participants attended fewer than four consultations. Analysis of the timing of the first ANC visit shows that multigravid women seek care later. Additionally, an adequate level of education was not associated with improved attendance at antenatal consultations. There is a critical need for early detection of poor compliance and intervention during pregnancy.
Keywords: Pregnancy, antenatal clinic, Mwembeladu hospital, poor-compliance