Early initiation of antenatal care and its associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at public health centres in Bahir Dar Zuria zone, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of, and factors associated with, early initiation of antenatal care (ANC) follow-up among pregnant women attending ANC services at Bahir Dar Zuria zone public health centres (HCs), Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. DESIGN: An institution-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from 15 December 2020 to 1 March 2021. A systematic random sampling technique was applied to select the study participants. SETTING: Five public HCs (Han HC, Shimbit HC, Dagmawi Minilik HC, Shumabo HC and Meshentie HC) in Bahir Dar Zuria zone. PARTICIPANTS: Pregnant mothers who were attending their ANC service during the data collection period were enrolled in this study. A total of 592 mothers were interviewed for the study. OUTCOME MEASURE: Early initiation of ANC services (within 16 weeks of gestation). RESULTS: 48.6% (95% CI 41.6% to 53.5%) of participants began their first ANC service before 16 weeks of gestation. Family size less than five (adjusted OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.25 to 3.25), urban residence (3.0, 1.48 to 6.17), secondary education (2.1, 1.3 to 3.6), college-level education and above (3.5, 1.8 to 6.8), primigravida (2.6, 1.65 to 4.14), planned pregnancy (3.5, 1.5 to 8.1) and knowledge about early initiation of ANC (1.7, 1.14 to 2.55) were significantly associated with early initiation of ANC. CONCLUSION: A substantial number of participants had not received ANC services in a timely manner. Sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics of the respondents were associated with timely booking of ANC services. Dissemination of information about recommended time to initiate ANC services and efforts to improve women’s educational status to increase knowledge about early initiation of ANC are needed in the region.