ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2020
Why do pregnant women in Iringa region in Tanzania start antenatal care late? A qualitative analysis.
Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 52 citations in OpenAlex.
- Barriers and facilitators to maternal healthcare in East Africa: a systematic review and qualitative synthesis of perspectives from women, their families, healthcare providers, and key stakeholders.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Pooled it
- Health system-related barriers to prenatal care management in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review of the qualitative literature.Primary health care research & development · 2023Pooled it
- Factors associated with birth preparedness and complication readiness knowledge among pregnant women before implementation of a culturally adapted training intervention in rural Iringa, Tanzania.Frontiers in global women's health · 2026Article
- Early antenatal care (ANC) booking and associated factors among pregnant women attending ANC services at public health facilities in Bahir Dar City Administration, Northwestern Ethiopia, 2023: a cross-sectional study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Article
- Unlock the drivers of early ANC visits among pregnant women in Kasulu town council, Tanzania: an institutional cross-sectional study.Reproductive health · 2025Article
- Late initiation of antenatal care and its associated factors among pregnant women in Benin: a facility based cross-sectional study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Article
- Review
- Article
- Visible and invisible cultural patterns influencing women's use of maternal health services among Igala women in Nigeria: a focused ethnographic study.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Relational contexts and men's responsibilities informing men's participation in antenatal care in rural sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
- Socio-demographic correlates of booking antenatal care in first trimester among pregnant women in Tanzania. Insights from Tanzania demographic health survey 2022.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2025Article
- Unravelling the nuances: A scoping review on fatherhood and men's participation in antenatal care in rural Sub-Saharan Africa.PloS one · 2025Article
- Exploring acceptability, opportunities, and challenges of community-based home pregnancy testing for early antenatal care initiation in rural Kenya.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Who is most vulnerable? Factors associated with presenting to antenatal care without a male partner in Northern Tanzania.Midwifery · 2024Article
- Four antenatal care visits by four months of pregnancy and four vital tests for pregnant mothers: impact of a community-facility health systems strengthening intervention in Migori County, Kenya.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2024Article
- Understanding male involvement in antenatal care in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania: Barriers, facilitators, and opportunities for engagement.Sexual & reproductive healthcare : official journal of the Swedish Association of Midwives · 2024Article
- Exploring Perceptions about Enablers of Women's Attendance and Adherence to the Recommended Antenatal Care Visits in Rwanda: A Qualitative Study.Rwanda journal of medicine and health sciences · 2024Article
- Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the fear of pregnancy scale: a translation and validation study.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- Attitudes Toward Pregnancy and Their Impact on Timing of Prenatal Care Initiation after Prior Spontaneous Preterm Delivery: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.Women's health reports (New Rochelle, N.Y.) · 2024Article
- Socio-demographic influence on the pregnant women's comprehension of maternal health information in Tanzania.Heliyon · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundWhen started early in pregnancy and continued up till childbirth, antenatal care (ANC) can be effective in reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes. While the proportion of women who attend ANC at least once in low income countries is high, most pregnant women attend their first ANC late. In Tanzania, while over 51% of pregnant women complete ≥4 visits, only 24% start within the first trimester. This study aimed to understand the factors that lead to delay in seeking ANC services among pregnant women in Tanzania.
methodsThis qualitative descriptive case study was conducted in two rural districts in Iringa Region in Tanzania. A total of 40 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted involving both male and female participants in 20 villages. In addition, 36 semi-structured interviews were carried out with health care workers, members of health facility committees and community health workers. Initial findings were further validated during 10 stakeholders' meetings held at ward level in which 450 people participated. Data were analysed using thematic approach.
resultsKey individual and social factors for late ANC attendance included lack of knowledge of the importance of early visiting ANC, previous birth with good outcome, traditional gender roles, fear of shame and stigma, and cultural beliefs about pregnancy. Main factors which inhibit early ANC attendance in Kilolo and Mufindi districts include spouse accompany policy, rude language of health personnel and shortage of health care providers.
conclusionsTraditional gender roles and cultural beliefs about pregnancy as well as health system factors continue to influence the timing of ANC attendance. Improving early ANC attendance, therefore, requires integrated interventions that address both community and health systems barriers. Health education on the timing and importance of early antenatal care should also be strengthened in the communities. Additionally, while spouse accompany policy is important, the implementation of this policy should not infringe women's rights to access ANC services.
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