Page 113 - GHES-2-2

Global Health Econ Sustain Antenatal care attendance

Table 3. Knowledge of the importance of antenatal care and timing of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy
Variable ANC Health facility (n [%]) Test statistic p‑value
AGH BCH
Reason for attending ANC** χ (7)=105.11 <0.001
2
Feeling sick 116 (25.7) 66 (17.4)
ANC is important for mother 93 (20.6) 40 (10.5)
ANC is important for baby 73 (16.2) 9 (2.4)
ANC is important for mother and baby 172 (38.1) 269 (70.8)
Timing of IPTp during pregnancy χ (2)=83.37 <0.001
2
After first trimester exclusively 95 (21.1) 177 (46.6)
Anytime during the pregnancy 2 (0.4) 17 (4.5)
Do not know 354 (78.5) 186 (49.0)
Total 451 (100.0) 380 (100.0)
Note: **Multiple responses were allowed; thus, the totals for each variable may exceed the sums provided below.
Abbreviations: AGH: Adidome Government Hospital; ANC: Antenatal care; BCH: Battor Catholic Hospital; IPTp: Intermittent preventive treatment in
pregnancy.

participants at both health facilities made between 4 and with 48.2% of participants from AGH and 28.2% from
7 ANC visits, with no statistically significant association BCH falling into the “low knowledge” category. There was
observed between ANC attendance and health facility a statistically significant correlation between knowledge
2
(χ [2] = 1.17; p = 0.558). about malaria and attendance at the health facilities during
2
Regarding the timing of the first ANC visit, 51.5% both ANC visits (χ [2] = 124.37; p < 0.001) and delivery
2
of participants reported at AGH and 45% reported at (χ [2] = 26.22; p < 0.001).
BCH in the first trimester (χ [2] = 1.67; p = 0.433), Among ANC participants who scored in the “medium
2
while only 7.6% in AGH and 9.3% in BCH reported in knowledge” range (33.34 – 66.66%), 69.2% were recorded
the third trimester. When asked about the timing of at BCH compared to 44.8% at AGH. Similarly, during
IPTp administration, higher proportions of participants, delivery, a higher proportion of “medium knowledge”
such as 52.5% reporting at AGH and 50.9% reporting scorers, 53.4%, was observed at BCH compared to AGH
at BCH, responded “after the first trimester exclusively” (45.5%). Participants achieving high scores (66.67 – 100%)
(χ [2] = 11.97; p = 0.003). However, a lower proportion of were only observed among ANC attendees at BCH and in
2
participants, 41.2% at AGH and 33.1% at BCH, responded the delivery ward of both health centers, although in small
“do not know.” Some participants did not receive IPTp-SP numbers (Table 5).
during the pregnancy, comprising 9% at AGH and 2.5%
at BCH (Table 4). Only one participant cited a reason for 3.6. Malaria and mosquito bed net usage
not receiving IPTp, reporting late for the first ANC in the
38 week of pregnancy. Complications and emergency Information obtained from questionnaire responses
th
visits at both facilities (AGH and BCH) were recorded at and records extracted from participants’ ANC booklets
very low percentages, with p-values of 0.026 and 0.099, indicates a small proportion of participants experienced
respectively. malaria during the study period, both at ANC visits
and during delivery. Among ANC participants, 2.0% at
3.5. Knowledge about malaria, symptoms, risks, and AGH and 4.5% at BCH reported malaria infection, while
prevention among delivery participants, 16.9% at AGH and 8.0% at
An assessment of participants’ knowledge about malaria, BCH had records of malaria infection (Table 6). However,
risks, and prevention revealed generally “low knowledge,” confirmatory tests were not carried out for 66.7% at AGH
with scores ranging between 0% and 33.33%. Despite and 58.8% at BCH. The majority of participants possessed
this trend, a higher proportion of participants from BCH mosquito bed nets, with a relatively high proportion of
attained “medium” and “high” scores compared to those ANC participants, 67.3% at AGH, and 75.1% at BCH
from AGH. Among ANC participants, 55.2% from AGH (p < 0.001), regularly using the nets compared to delivery
and 21.3% from BCH scored with a “low knowledge” range participants, where 51.1% at AGH and 39.7% at BCH
(0 – 33.33%). A similar trend was observed during delivery, (p = 0.039) reported regular usage.

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2024) 7 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.2336