PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ibnouf, Adil H.
AU  - van den Borne, Hubertus W.
AU  - Maarse, Johannes A.
TI  - Utilization of antenatal care services by Sudanese women in their reproductive age
DP  - 2007 May 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 737--743
VI  - 28
IP  - 5
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/28/5/737.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/28/5/737.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2007 May 01; 28
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To describe the current antenatal care situation in Sudan with regard to routine utilization of antenatal health care services and application of tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccination in urban and rural areas.METHODS: The study was conducted in Khartoum State, Sudan, between August and December 2002. Interviews were held among a representative sample of 400 married women aged 15-49 years from both urban and rural localities. Utilization of antenatal care and TT vaccine for pregnant women were used as dependent variables while socio-economic status, place of resident, women's education, quality of care and walk-time were applied as independent variables.RESULTS: Utilization of routine antenatal health care services was approximately 5 times and application of TT-vaccination was 3.7 times higher in urban women as compared to women in rural areas. A higher quality of care (odds-ratio 5.8) and shorter walk-time (odds-ratio 3.1) were significantly associated with more utilization of routine antenatal care services. Mother's education showed a nearly significant positive relationship both with the use of routine antenatal health care service (odds-ratio 2.1).CONCLUSION: Results suggest that public health care policy should focus on 1. developing more high quality primary health care facilities for routine antenatal care and TT-vaccination in rural areas, and 2. development and implementation of mass-media and community education for pregnant women on the need for routine antenatal care and TT-vaccination.