Utilization of Antenatal Care Services Among Pregnant Women Attending Public Hospitals in Awka-South Local Government Area Anambra State

• Author(s): Nzeukwu, A. C.; Nworuh, B. O.; Iwuoha, G.; Nzeukwu, C. I.
• Paper ID: 1714164
• Page: 457-462
• Published Date: 10-02-2026
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 9 Issue 8 February-2026

Abstract

Antenatal care services (ANCS) are provided for pregnant women and adolescent girls, to ensure the best health conditions for both mother and baby during pregnancy. Poor utilization of antenatal care services is still common in most societies, leading to unacceptably high level of complications developed during pregnancy from preventable or treatable diseases. This study aimed at investigating the Utilization of ANCS among pregnant women attending Public Hospitals in Awka-South Local Government Area, Anambra State. A total of 314 pregnant women volunteered for the study. Structured questionnaires were issued to the participants and the data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentage, Fisher’s exact and chi-square (X2) statistics was used to test the study hypotheses at P≤0.05 significance level. The result showed that among 341 pregnant women assessed, 92(29.3%) were utilizing the services properly while 222(70.7%) were utilizing it poorly. Highest utilization was found among the age group 26-30 years (33.5%), 31-35 years (33.8%), and over 35 years (33.3%), and less utilization was found among the younger women of less than 26 years old (17.1%). There was slightly significant difference between age and the level of proper utilization of antenatal care services among the study group (P=0.046). Married women and the divorced or separated properly utilized the antenatal care services more than the single women. There was significant difference between the marital status and the utilization of antenatal care services (P=0.021). Findings from this study shows that there is the underutilization of antenatal care services among the respondents which could lead to complications in pregnancy, therefore, adequate education and awareness are highly recommended in the among pregnant women in the study area.

Keywords

Utilization, Antenatal, Pregnant, Women, Public, Awka-South

Citations

IRE Journals:
Nzeukwu, A. C., Nworuh, B. O., Iwuoha, G., Nzeukwu, C. I. "Utilization of Antenatal Care Services Among Pregnant Women Attending Public Hospitals in Awka-South Local Government Area Anambra State" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 9 Issue 8 2026 Page 457-462

IEEE:
Nzeukwu, A. C., Nworuh, B. O., Iwuoha, G., Nzeukwu, C. I. "Utilization of Antenatal Care Services Among Pregnant Women Attending Public Hospitals in Awka-South Local Government Area Anambra State" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 9(8)