Extent of utilization and factors influencing antenatal care in rural Rajshahi.

This cross-sectional study determined the extent of utilization of antenatal care (ANC) and identified factors influencing utilization. The study was conducted in 9 rural hospitals in Rajshahi district Bangladesh among 810 recently delivered women. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule and were analyzed using simple descriptive analysis Chi-square test and logistic regression. Of the 810 respondents 30.05% had antenatal checkups and 81.3% received tetanus toxoid before delivery. 69.5% of the women did not have any antenatal check-ups for reasons such as absence of complications and the feeling that it was not mandatory to have such check-ups. Important factors influencing utilization of ANC were freedom of decision-making perception about the need for ANC and income. There is a need for improving utilization of ANC especially through perception improvement about ANC and freedom of decision-making.