Yuba Raj Paudel|Trishna Jha|Suresh Mehata
Timing of First Antenatal Care (ANC) and Inequalities in Early Initiation of ANC in Nepal
background provision uptake quality timely antenatal careanc essential element efforts improve health outcomes women newborn babies antenatal consultations assist early identification treatment complications pregnancy study aimed provide information distribution inequalities early initiation anc nepal methods distribution inequalities early initiation anc examined using nepal demographic health surveys 2011 bivariate multivariate logistic regression used order assess inequalities findings overall 70 women started first anc four month earlier among participants never attended school half 52 received first anc four months earlier majority participants 97 received higher education received first anc recommended time similarly 89 richest quintile 48 poorest quintile received first anc recommended time adjusted analysis women richest wealth quintile significantly likely initiate anc early aor 374 95ci 231605 compared poorest similarly women higher level education significantly likely aor 1140 95ci 5052573 early initiate anc early compared women never attended school significantly lower odds early anc take observed among madhesi caste aor 056 95ci 035090 compared brahminchhetri women women whose pregnancy unwanted significantly less likely attend first anc four months early aor 073 95 ci058093 comparison women whose pregnancy wanted conclusions differences recommended timing initiation anc evident among women different educational economic levels casteethnic groups rural women less likely checkups per guidelines findings suggest need interventions raise female education improve economic status households targeted interventions suitable local context culture equally important increasing access family planning methods reduction unwanted pregnancy promote early anc take