Utilization of Antenatal Care (ANC) Services and Place of Delivery among Market Women in Ebonyi State

Background: Antenatal care is a basic but specialized care given to every pregnant woman for a positive pregnancy experience and better outcome. Adequate health education, adequate provision of basic health facilities in every community and affordability of the services will go a long way to improving the acceptability and uptake of this essential services with resultant improvement in the feto-maternal outcome. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the level of utilization of antenatal services among the market women in Abakpa Main Market of Abakalikki, Ebonyi State. Methodology: The study was a cross-sectional study of consenting market women of child bearing age who were either pregnant or had had a baby in the past 5 years. Data analysis: Data collected from the study was analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software Version 20.0 for Windows. Results were presented using tables, frequencies and percentages. Results: The result from the study showed that of the 200 women sampled, 165(82.5%) attended ANC in a certified health facility whereas 35(17.5%) did not. It also revealed that 195(97.5%) of the women were willing to deliver or delivered in a certified health facility while only 5(2.5%) were willing to or delivered in their home, traditional birth attendants or a church. Conclusion: Antenatal care is a critical aspect of maternal health with implications on the eventual feto-maternal outcome. Proper health education and provision of basic health facilities in every community will improve ANC uptake among our women for a positive pregnancy experience and better pregnancy outcome