1Melkamsew Tesfaye, 2Yadeta Dessie, 3Melake Demena, 1Tewodros Yosef
1. Department of Public health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan Teferi, Ethiopia. 2. School of Public Health, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University Harar, Ethiopia. 3. School of Post Graduate College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.
Abstract

Background:  Early commencement of antenatal care by pregnant women as well as regular visits has the potential to affect maternal and fetal outcome positively. Despite, it is less resource-intensive intervention. But, most pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa was initiate their ANC service utilization lately. According to EDHS 2016, 80% of pregnant women late initiate their first antenatal care. Objective: To assess the magnitude of late initiation of antenatal care visit and its associated factors among pregnant women in pastoral and semi-pastoral communities in Bench Sheko Zone Ethiopia, 2018. Methods: A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted among 509 selected pregnant women attending ANC service. Data were collected using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire. The data was entered using EPI-DATA version 3.1, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Binary logistic regression was computed to determine the association using crude and adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence intervals. Independent variables with a p-value less than 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression model considered as significant.Results: Out of 509 respondents interviewed, 337 (66%) were reported late first antenatal care visit. Late antenatal care visit was significantly associated with  Age of women with 25 and above years [AOR = 1.59, 95% CI (1.02, 2.48)], Unplanned pregnancy [AOR=2.25, 95%CI (1.34, 3.77)], Perceived right time of ANC after 4 months [AOR=2.29, 95%CI (1.36, 3.85)], Attended below secondary school [AOR =2.33, 95% CI (1.05, 5.19)], and Didn’t get advice to have ANC [AOR=1.64,  95% CI (1.10, 2.45)]. Conclusion: The majority of pregnant women initiate their first antenatal care lately. Providing continuous health education is one important segment of intervention which can be done through health extension workers.Keywords: Antenatal care, late initiation, pregnant women, pastoral, Ethiopia.