Effect of four or more antenatal care visits on facility delivery and early postnatal care services utilization in Uganda: a propensity score matched analysis
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC pregnancy and childbirth
Abstract
Maternal mortality remains a global public health issue, more predominantly in developing countries,
and is associated with poor maternal health services utilization. Antenatal care (ANC) visits are positively associated
with facility delivery and postnatal care (PNC) utilization. However, ANC in itself may not lead to such association but
due to differences that exist among users (women). The purpose of this study, therefore, is to examine the effect of
four or more ANC visits on facility delivery and early PNC and also the effect of facility-based delivery on early PNC
using Propensity Score Matched Analysis (PSMA).
Methods: The present study utilized the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) dataset. Women
aged 15 – 49 years who had given birth three years preceding the survey were considered for this study. Propensity
score-matched analysis was used to analyze the effect of four or more ANC visits on facility delivery and early PNC and
also the effect of facility-based delivery on early PNC.
Results: The results revealed a significant and positive effect of four or more ANC visits on facility delivery [ATT (Average Treatment Effect of the Treated)=0.118, 95% CI: 0.063 – 0.173] and early PNC [ATT=0.099, 95% CI: 0.076 – 0.121].
It also found a positive and significant effect of facility-based delivery on early PNC [ATT=0.518, 95% CI: 0.489 – 0.547].
Conclusion: Policies geared towards the provision of four or more ANC visits are an effective intervention towards
improved facility-based delivery and early PNC utilisation in Uganda.
Description
Keywords
Antenatal care, Facility-based delivery, Postnatal care, Propensity Score Matched Analysis, Uganda
Citation
Mwebesa, E., Kagaayi, J., Ssebagereka, A., Nakafeero, M., Ssenkusu, J. M., Guwatudde, D., & Tumwesigye, N. M. (2022). Effect of four or more antenatal care visits on facility delivery and early postnatal care services utilization in Uganda: a propensity score matched analysis. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 22(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04354-8