Patterns and Determinants of Antenatal Care Visits during Pregnancy in Bangladesh: An Application of the Negative Binomial Regression Model
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69728/jst.v12.102Abstract
Antenatal care (ANC) interactions are acknowledged as essential for safeguarding the health and welfare of pregnant women and their infants. In the analysis of count data pertaining to ANC use, overdispersion frequently arises; neglecting it may result in misinterpretations and erroneous results. This study analyses trends in antenatal care visit utilization in Bangladesh over recent years. Data were extracted from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) for the years 2007, 2011, 2014, and 2017-18, each encompassing a nationally representative sample of 11,485, 17,842, 17,863, and 20,127 ever-married women, respectively. The analysis concentrated on 4,770, 6,965, 4,371, and 4,884 mums who had delivered within the three years preceding each survey. The data analysis utilized descriptive, inferential, and multivariate statistical methods. The utilization of antenatal care (ANC) has significantly improved, with the percentage of women attending four or more ANC appointments rising from 23.2% in 2007 to 48.4% in 2017-18. Crucial determinants that markedly influence the frequency of ANC visits encompass residential location, media exposure, and delivery care setting, at the 0.05 significance level. Urban women received ANC visits at rates 1.272, 1.263, 1.136, and 1.112 times higher than rural women in the same survey years. Other notable predictors included administrative division, maternal education, wealth index, birth order, and delivery site. The research demonstrates a steady increase in ANC visit participation among Bangladeshi women. To optimize outcomes, elevating ANC service standards and instituting educational initiatives with periodic workshops may assist women in comprehending the significance of ANC visits.
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