factors related to utilization of antenatal care in Nepal: A generalized linear approach

Authors

  • Gauri Shrestha Reader, Central Department of Statistics, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v2i2.10629

Keywords:

Antenatal care, Ever married woman, Poisson regression model

Abstract

Background: Antenatal care provides an entry point for pregnant women to the health care system. Proper utilization of available health services essential for successful implementation of health programmes. Objectives: This study investigates factors associated with the use of maternal health services in terms of number of antenatal care visits.

Methods: For analyzing the use of antenatal care health services in Nepal, data was extracted from individual recodes of a data file of Nepal Demographic Health Survey 2006. The unit of analysis for this study was Ever Married Woman (who had at least one live birth in the five years preceding the survey). The sample of study consisted of 4182 Ever Married Woman. The response variable has numbers as its possible outcome therefore generalized Poisson regression model was selected for establishing linkage between number of antenatal care visits and several explanatory variables.

Results: The result of this study shows that women with low education level, those residing in rural areas and those with low socio-economic status are less likely to attend antenatal care visits.

Conclusion: This study confirms that antenatal care visit is indeed an effective entry point for delivery care. Programmes directed at improving and increasing the accessibility of antenatal care are important to improve maternal health, especially in developing countries like Nepal.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v2i2.10629

Journal of Kathmandu Medical College, Vol. 2, No. 2, Issue 4, Apr.-Jun., 2013, Page: 69-74

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
961
PDF
952

Downloads

Published

2014-06-18

How to Cite

Shrestha, G. (2014). factors related to utilization of antenatal care in Nepal: A generalized linear approach. Journal of Kathmandu Medical College, 2(2), 69–74. https://doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v2i2.10629

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2013)

Section

Original Research Articles

License

Copyright © Journal of Kathmandu Medical College
The ideas and opinions expressed by authors or articles summarized, quoted, or published in full text in this journal represent only the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of Journal of Kathmandu Medical College or the institute with which the author(s) is/are affiliated, unless so specified.

Authors convey all copyright ownership, including any and all rights incidental thereto, exclusively to JKMC, in the event that such work is published by JKMC. JKMC shall own the work, including 1) copyright; 2) the right to grant permission to republish the article in whole or in part, with or without fee; 3) the right to produce preprints or reprints and translate into languages other than English for sale or free distribution; and 4) the right to republish the work in a collection of articles in any other mechanical or electronic format.