An assessment of knowledge, utilization, and perceptions on antenatal care services among women in Nimba County, Liberia

Liberia registers an exponential mortality rate in developing Sub-Saharan countries in Africa. Inadequate utilization of antenatal care is a leading cause of the higher infant mortality rates recorded in Liberia. Thus, this study seeks to assess knowledge and socio-demographic factors that thwart the utilization of ANC services among women between 15 and 49 years in Nimba County, Liberia. The study applied quantitative and qualitative research design. A sample of 167 was selected using a systematic sampling technique. The SPSS Software Version 23.0 was used to analyze the data collected statistically. Results indicated that 54.5 % of the sample were between 15 – 25 years. Socio-demographic characteristics such as age (χ 2= 0.902), df= 3, P= 0.825), were not significant with ANC attendance and the level of knowledge was significant (χ 2=5.653 df =1 P=0.017). Further, 150 women in the sample had adequate knowledge of ANC services. The high level of knowledge among respondents was significant (χ 2=5.653 df =1 P=0.017) with ANC attendance. In addition, 83.8% attended ANC services, and 77.8% delivered their babies at health centres. One of the noticeable challenges cited by respondents in this study was the distance to facilities with 64%. Most people were knowledgeable about ANC services, which affected their decision to utilize ANC services, while demographic factors were not significant. However, the study has established inadequate medication and distance to the nearest facility foiled the utilization of ANC services. Therefore, this study recommends that the government ensures that rural Liberia’s health facilities are equipped with medicines and accessible and aggressively conducts civic education or campaigns to create awareness about the ANC services. Keywords: Antenatal care, pregnancy, health workers