Factors predicting antenatal care utilization among postpartum women Tu Du hospital Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam

Abstract

ABSTRACT           This study determined the utilization of antenatal care and factors predicting antenatal care utilization among postpartum women. Predictive correlation study was conducted in two postpartum wards at Tu Du hospital where the sample size was 316 postpartum women. A self-report questionnaire with five sections was used to collect data. The results showed that almost respondents had antenatal care utilization more than or equal to three times (74.7%). Housewives were more likely 2.02 times to have antenatal care utilization less than three times compared to working women (p = 0.04). Women who lived in low income family and moderate income family were more likely 6.86 times and m 2.93 times to get antenatal care utilization less than three times compared to women with high income family (p = 0.04, < 0.01, respectively). Multiparous women were 2.33 times to have antenatal care utilization less than three times compared to primiparous women (p = 0.02). These findings indicated that the health care providers, health care system should pay more attention to women in low income family, housewives, and multiparous women. Health education concerning the importance of antenatal care should be provided to increase the antenatal care utilization among Vietnamese women