Factors Contributing to Late Antenatal Booking Among Pregnant Women in Ibore Primary Health Center in Esan Central Local Government Area, Edo State

This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in Ibore Primary Health Center, Irrua in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State Nigeria to investigate the factors contributing to late antenatal booking among pregnant women. The study was targeted on pregnant women who booked for antenatal clinic not earlier than the third (3 rd ) month into pregnancy. A total of 150 were recruited and were studied using questionnaire for reasons of late first visit to antenatal clinic. Majority of the study participants were between 21 and 26(36.0%) years, married (86.0%) and were employed (70%). 12.0% of the study participants report the current antenatal booking as their 1 st , 88.0% claimed to have booked for antenatal clinic during their previous pregnancy. It was observed that majority of the pregnant women book for antenatal services at the 7 th (30; 20.0%), 8 th (42; 28.0%) and 9 th (27; 18.0%) month of pregnancy. On the reasons for late booking, 68.0% each attached it to time and ignorant of the importance of early booking while 58.0% attached it to distance to the primary health center and 64.0% to culture. Interestingly, 80.0% claimed attitude of the health care providers to reason for late booking. Based on the results of this study, a good number of pregnant women in Ibore booked late for antenatal clinic and the reasons are numerous avoidable factors. Hence the increase rate of maternal morbidity and mortality and by implication un-realization of the 4 th and 5 th millennium development goals.