Background

Antenatal care (ANC) is a critical component for improving maternal and newborn health. It provides a platform for essential healthcare services, including health promotion, screening and diagnosis, injury and disease prevention, birth preparedness and preparation for the postnatal period. By implementing timely and appropriate evidence-based practices, ANC can reduce maternal and child morbidity and mortality and optimise overall health and well-being.


Objective

To assess the magnitude of utilisation of ANC with eight or more contacts and its associated factors among pregnant women attending ANC in Yayo District, 2023.


Methods

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 301 randomly selected pregnant women attending ANC follow-up in selected health facilities in Yayo District, Southwest Ethiopia, from 1 June 2023 to 30 June 2023. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. The collected data were coded and entered into Epi Data V.4.6 and then exported to SPSS V.26 for descriptive and inferential analysis. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted. Adjusted OR (AOR) with a 95% CI was estimated to assess the strength of associations. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant in the multivariate analysis.


Results

A total of 298 pregnant women participated in the study, yielding a response rate of 99%. Most of the pregnant women, 139 (46.6%), were housewives, and the majority, 248 (83.2%), were married. Adequate utilisation of ANC with eight or more contacts was found to be 7.7%. Factors significantly associated with ANC 8+ contacts utilisation include previous pregnancy-related complications (AOR 5.238 (95% CI 1.004 to 27.31)) and early initiation of ANC (AOR 29.09 (95% CI 8.87 to 95.3)).


Conclusion

The magnitude of ANC 8+ contacts utilisation was remarkably low in the study area. Therefore, greater investment is needed to promote the new ANC approach, emphasising ANC 8+ contacts. Special attention should be given to mobilising mothers to initiate ANC before 12 weeks of gestation to reduce the risk of complications and ensure maximum utilisation of ANC 8+ contacts.