2.2.

2 Knowledge about Antenatal Care Services and Utilization of ANC services

Knowledge is a significant structural variable that may impact whether or not to use ANC

services. The location of these services, as well as the conditions for attending ANC, should be

specified. Recognition of danger symptoms and awareness of potential helpful interventions

should improve care-seeking for problems, while specific information about the risks of labor

and the advantages of expert attendance should boost preventative care-seeking. Inadequate

knowledge of ANC and its benefits to the mother's and infant's health may potentially have a

detrimental impact on ANC utilization. Pregnant women are sometimes unaware of the health

risks associated with poor or non-use of ANC treatments (Dako-Gyeke, 2013).

If pregnant women are aware of the consequences of not attending ANC and are convinced of

the benefits of practicing preventive care, their behavior is likely to change. The perceived

advantages of using ANC services include the opportunity to contact with pregnant women,

identify needs or difficulties, and work together to find solutions. Pregnant women should be

aware of the advantages of attending ANC as well as the consequences of failing to do so. If

pregnant women were aware of the benefits of ANC for their own and their babies' health, they

could value it more. Adequate ANC use means that the first ANC should occur before 16 weeks

of pregnancy during the first trimester, with a minimum of four ANC visits during the

pregnancy. Lesser et al. (Lesser et al., 2013).

The second ANC visit should take place between 16 and 23 weeks of pregnancy. Between 24-

and 28 weeks of pregnancy, the third ANC visit is scheduled. Between 32 and 34 weeks of

pregnancy, the fourth ANC visit is scheduled. The fifth and sixth ANC visits are scheduled

between 36 and 37 weeks, and the seventh and eighth visits are scheduled between 38 and 42
weeks, respectively. When there are possible health issues, however, ANC visits may be more

frequent. Between 2004 and 2015, the ANC attendance registry found that the majority of

Zimbabwean pregnant women had an average of one ANC visit before birth, with the first ANC

visit occurring in the second or third trimester (Dowswel, 2015).

2.2.3 Accessibility of ANC services and Utilization of ANC services

Antenatal care services should be available to all pregnant women, regardless of social background, age,

race, education level, or HIV status, and should be provided in a safe and confidential atmosphere.

(Gourlay, 2013) (Gourlay, 2013) (Gourlay, 2013)

Mbinya claims that M. C. (2015) found that the following factors contribute to perceived

inaccessibility of ANC services: stigma and beliefs about social rejection, lack of confidentiality,

cultural beliefs and perceptions about ANC, costly health care services, and previous health care

experiences. The physical accessibility of MCH services is the most important variable

associated with their utilization (Abbas and Walker, 2016). Several other studies have discovered

that the physical proximity of health care services, particularly in developing countries, plays an

important role in their utilization (Stock, 2013)

Because most pregnant women have financial constraints, the majority of them may not be able

to afford the maternity fees that are charged. The government of Zimbabwe tries to help pregnant

women who can't afford to pay by referring them to social welfare. However, for pregnant

women who truly cannot afford to pay, the process of obtaining state assistance is lengthy and

frustrating, leading to mothers avoiding social welfare. Because of the perceived high fees, some
pregnant women may choose to use traditional birth attendants (TBAs), who are less expensive

and can be paid in kind (Nyakang'o, 2018).

Because little is known about ANC's effectiveness in reducing maternal and infant mortality and

morbidity, there has been a lot of debate about its usefulness (Carrole et al 2011). Despite these

reservations, ANC is critical in developing countries, particularly for pregnant women. The

effectiveness of ANC should also ensure the dissemination of information on maintaining good

pregnancy health, warning signs, and when and where to seek help if these occur. The goal-

oriented ANC guidelines, which use need-focused care, were created to address quality,

adequacy, and effectiveness. Downe et al. (Downe, 2016).