Determinants of Antenatal Care Utilization among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Northern Nigeria: Evidence from Bagwai Local Government Area, Kano State

Abstract

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is an important component of maternal healthcare and contributes to the early detection and management of pregnancy-related complications. However, continuity of ANC remains suboptimal in many rural settings in northern Nigeria. Objective: To assess antenatal care utilization and its determinants among women of reproductive age in Bagwai Local Government Area, Kano State, Nigeria. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 238 women of reproductive age selected using a multistage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests and Binary logistic regression were conducted were used for data analysis. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Awareness of ANC services was high (93.3%). Among women who were aware of ANC, 94.1% attended ANC during their last pregnancy. Of the 209 ANC attendees, 58.9% completed four or more visits. In multivariable analysis, women with parity 1–4 had higher odds of completing four or more ANC visits compared with those with parity ≥5 (AOR = 3.83; 95% CI: 1.74–8.44; p = 0.001). Women residing less than 30 minutes from a health facility also had higher odds of completing four or more visits (AOR = 2.60; 95% CI: 1.23–5.50; p = 0.013). Women younger than 25 years had lower odds of completing four or more visits compared with those aged ≥25 years (AOR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.12–0.86; p = 0.023), while women with no formal or primary education had lower odds than those with secondary or tertiary education (AOR = 0.29; 95% CI: 0.16–0.56; p < 0.001). Marital type was not independently associated with ANC utilization. Conclusion:  Interventions should focus on improving female education, supporting younger and high-parity women, strengthening primary healthcare services, and reducing geographical barriers to repeated ANC attendance.