Factors Influencing the First Antenatal Visit Within 12 Weeks of Pregnancy Among Pregnant Women Receiving Care at Sub-district Health Promoting Hospitals, Mueang Nakhon Phanom District, Nakhon Phanom Province

Abstract

Initiating the first antenatal visit within the initial 12 weeks of gestation is a critical measure in enhancing the health outcomes of both the mother and the infant, as it facilitates risk assessment, diagnosis, and the provision of appropriate and timely care. The objectives of this study were twofold: (1) to analyze and compare the general and obstetric characteristics of pregnant women who attended their first antenatal visit before and after 12 weeks, and (2) to investigate the factors influencing attendance at the first antenatal visit before 12 weeks. This research employs a retrospective case-control study design, utilizing data collected from medical records of 25 Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals and the medical and health data warehouse system in Nakhon Phanom province for the fiscal year 2024. The study sample comprised 146 pregnant women, with 90 attending their first antenatal visit before 12 weeks and 56 after 12 weeks. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, tests for differences between groups, and multiple logistic regression analysis to examine the factors influencing the timing of the first antenatal visit.

Results: The research findings indicate that two primary factors are significantly associated with attending antenatal care before 12 weeks of gestation: (1) receiving support from the husband, which increases the likelihood of attending antenatal care before 12 weeks by 2.46 times (p < 0.05), and (2) residing within a distance of less than 5 kilometers from the health service facility, which enhances the likelihood by 6.30 times (p < 0.001). The study underscores the importance of family support and accessibility to health services as critical determinants facilitating early antenatal care within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Consequently, it is imperative to promote the involvement of family members, particularly spouses, and to improve the accessibility of antenatal care services to enhance maternal and infant health within the community.