Publication:

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of antenatal care among pregnant women: a community-based cross-sectional study in Bosaso, Puntland, Somalia

Background Antenatal care (ANC) is a crucial component of maternal health services, aiming to ensure the health of both the mother and the newborn during pregnancy. It serves as a comprehensive health service designed to detect, prevent, and manage complications during pregnancy, ultimately promoting positive maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Methods A community-based cross-sectional study, conducted from February to May 2024 in Bosaso, Somalia, aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding ANC among pregnant women. A total of 384 participants were selected using clustered and systematic sampling from four villages in Bosaso. Data was collected through a structured pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 21. Descriptive statistics, frequencies, and percentages were computed to assess ANC knowledge, attitude, and practice levels and correlation tests were conducted to explore associations between them.

Results Most respondents were aware of ANC services (86.5%), with healthcare providers as the primary information source (46.4%). While many recognized the importance of ANC checkups (89.3%) and followed recommended practices, only 17% adhered to the ideal frequency of four or more visits. Statistically significant correlations were found between knowledge, attitude, and practice (p<0.01), indicating that awareness positively influences ANC practices.

Conclusion This study highlights that the adherence to recommended visits remains low. A significant gap exists between ANC initiation and completion, with barriers to access and awareness. Strengthening knowledge, attitudes, and targeted interventions, such as community support and mobile reminders, could improve ANC utilization and maternal health outcomes.