Factors associated with antenatal and health facility delivery care in selected areas of Subornochor upazila, Noakhali, Bangladesh

Improving maternal health and reducing maternal mortality rate (MMR) are major challenges for Bangladesh. Utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services from skilled professionals and deliveries in health facilities are therefore important to tackle MMR and socioeconomic differences play a major part for these service utilization. The purpose of the current study was to identify the level and determinants of ANC and health facility delivery care utilization in Subornochor upazila (a rural sub-district), Noakhali, Bangladesh. The study was a community based cross sectional study. A total of 360 women (15-49 years) who had a child in the last five years preceding the survey were interviewed and studied. The results of overall analysis showed that only 34.6% women received ANC from health professionals, whereas mere 5.3% deliveries were taken place at health facilities. Mother's education, partner's occupation, family income and area of residence were significant predictors of these services utilization. Place of receiving ANC was an influencing factor of health facility delivery. Women who didn't receive ANC in health facilities were almost three times (OR: 2.95, 95% CI: 1.06-7.9) less likely to deliver in health facilities compared to the women who received ANC. The study underscores the urgent need of addressing socioeconomic differences and targeted interventions might help the women who need to utilize these services more often. The study also pointed out huge differences of these services utilization with national average. Though further investigation is necessary but emphasis should be given more to address the barriers of maternal health service.