Determinants of Antenatal Consultation in The Health Districts of Kolda and Sédhiou (Senegal)

Introduction: The ANC plays an important role in monitoring the health status of the fetus but also in the monitoring of the mother, by allowing the tracking of several conditions. It makes it possible to retain the woman with the health structure, thus promoting childbirth in ideal conditions. The objective of this study was to identify the determinants of ANC in the Kolda and Sédhiou regions.

Method: It was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional survey. The study focused on women who gave birth between February 2013 and January 2014. Sampling was two-stage random. The data collected during an individual interview focused on the socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge and practices of the women surveyed. The data was analyzed using the R software.

Results: A total of 1216 women were surveyed. The results of the study show that 62.3% had no level of education, 48% had no IGA, 57.6% were within 5 km of a health facility and 44.1% were multiparous. Participation in awareness-raising activities involved 53% of women. The percentage of women who had completed their ANC was 24% while 34% had completed ANC₁ on time. The results of the multivariate analysis showed that timely ANC₁ practice was related to proximity to the health facility (1.7 [1.31-2.2)], simple multiparity (1.46 [1.14-1.89]) and participation in the awareness programme (1.4 [1.08-1.81]). Completion of all ANCs was associated with schooling (79 [1.34-2.39]), knowledge of the number and importance of ANC and the fact that the woman lived within 15 minutes of the structure (1.52 [1.14-2.04]).

Conclusion: The results of the study show that the useof reproductive health services for ANC was linked to environmental, economic, cultural and structural factors. Improving the accessibility of these services requires joint actions by the government, NGOs, community actors and the involvement of the population.