Exploring the barriers to early Antenatal Care initiation among pregnant women in a rural district of Northern Ghana

Background Early initiation of antenatal care (ANC) is essential to enable pregnant women benefit from early assessment and management of any abnormality that is detected. In the Nanton District of Northern Ghana only 58.5% of pregnant women initiate their first ANC clinic in the first trimester of their pregnancy. The purpose of the study was to explore the barriers of early ANC uptake among pregnant women in the Nanton District. Methods The study employed a descriptive exploratory design with a purposive sampling technique. Fifteen pregnant women who initiated ANC after the first trimester of their pregnancy were interviewed face-to-face. The data was transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings The study findings revealed three barriers that influenced ANC initiation which include financial, transportation and sociocultural barriers. Financial barriers that influenced ANC initiation were the cost of ANC services and husbands not having good jobs. Transportation barriers identified were the long distance to the health facilities, poor road infrastructure and lack of commercial vehicles. Sociocultural barriers that emerged were waiting for approval by husbands and cultural beliefs. Conclusion The study revealed the need for the Ministry of Health, Ghana to do a comprehensive review of the free maternal health policy to ensure that maternal health services are actually free. There is the need for public education, especially in communities where cultural beliefs contribute to late initiation.