Prevalence and Factors Associated With Late Antenatal Care Booking Among Pregnant Women at Magoye Rural Health Center in Mazabuka District, Southern Zambia

Background: Late antenatal care (ANC) booking has been a public health issue for women of childbearing age, 15 to 49 years. In low and middle-income countries, the prevalence of late antenatal care booking is 88 %, while in high-income countries, the prevalence of late antenatal care is 27% (WHO, 2012). In Zambia, the prevalence of late ANC booking is about 63% (ZDHS 2018). The high burden of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidities is likely to be an attribute of late ANC booking. The World Health Organization recommends the first ANC appointment before 12 weeks of gestation (WHO, 2016). In Zambia, the Ministry of Health and its cooperating partners have interventions in place to scale up the provision of standard ANC services, ranging from policies to ANC and other maternal programs. However, no significant successes have been made so far. This study sought to find out the prevalence of late ANC booking at Magoye Rural Health Center and the factors associated with it. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was used for data collection and analysis. Convenience sampling was used to select the study site, while a facility-based purposive sampling was used to recruit study participants. The participants were between 15 and 49 years old, accessed ANC services at the facility during the study period, and willingly participated. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 29 software. Descriptive statistics, frequencies, and percentages were used to determine the prevalence of late ANC booking. In contrast, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine factors associated with late ANC booking. Results: Prevalence of late ANC booking was 80.6%. The significant variables from the regression model were being married (p-value <0.047, C.I 1.014-5.791, AOR 2.423), multigravida (p-value 0.016, C.I 1.246-8.904, AOR 3.330) and multiparous (p-value <0.001, C.I 1.930-8.820, AOR 4.126) all with higher odds of booking for ANC late. Conclusion: The prevalence of late ANC booking was found to be high. The associated factors were being married, multigravida, and multiparous. There is a need to intensify sensitization on the dangers of late ANC booking. This can be done, among others, by coming up with results-oriented policies and strategies around late ANC booking.