%0 Journal Article
%T Adolescent girls' and young mothers' knowledge and use of antenatal care in the Ahafo Region, Ghana: A cross-sectional study.
%A Tabiri J
%A Adzordor P
%A Bawontuo V
%A Ziblim SD
%A Mchunu GG
%A Pillay JD
%A Kuupiel D
%J Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med
%V 16
%N 1
%D 2024 Jul 9
%M 39099267
暂无%R 10.4102/phcfm.v16i1.4259
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B> Antenatal care (ANC) is crucial to reducing maternal and neonatal deaths, but few studies examined adolescent girls' and young women's ANC utilisation and knowledge in Ghana.<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B> To assess adolescents' and young mothers' knowledge of ANC, utilisation and factors influencing its use in Ghana.<BR><B>METHODS: </B> Tano North Municipality, Ahafo Region.<BR><B>METHODS: </B> This community-based, cross-sectional study involved 440 adolescent and young mothers (between 10 and 24 years). A structured questionnaire was employed to collect data face-to-face. Descriptive and statistical analyses were performed, and p  0.05 was considered statistically significant.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B> Of the 440 respondents, most were aged 20-24 years (61.2%), married (30.0%), Christians (78.2%), completed junior high school (JHS) (47.8%) and traders (38.9%). Postnatal mothers were 71.6% (315), and all had utilised ANC services. Antenatal care knowledge was good among 75% (330) respondents, with no significant variation by age. Religion influenced knowledge, with Muslims having lower knowledge. Antenatal care utilisation was high ( 50%) among those aged 15-19 years, married, Christians, JHS graduates and traders. Age, marital status and employment type significantly influenced ANC utilisation. Individuals in the age group 15-19 years and married women demonstrated higher odds of utilising ANC services. Casual workers and unemployed respondents were found to have lower odds of utilising ANC services compared to traders.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B> Age, marital status, and employment type influenced ANC utilisation in the Ahafo Region. Adolescent mothers under 15 years had lower rates, requiring targeted interventions to improve pregnancy outcomes.Contribution: This study highlights the knowledge and factors influencing ANC use in Ahafo Region and adds to the existing research evidence on ANC.