Author(s)

Abdourahamane Diallo^1,2, Almamy Amara Toure^2,3, Aboubacar Sidiki Magassouba², Diao Cisse², Younoussa Sylla³, Ibrahima Barry³

¹Department of Gynaecology-Obstetrics, Ignace Deen National Hospital, Conakry, Guinea.
²Faculty of Health Sciences and Technologies, Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, Conakry, Guinea.
³National Center for Training and Research in Rural Health of Mafèrinyah, Forécariah, Guinea.

Background: Despite persistent efforts to improve maternal health through various interventions, Guinea faces challenges in achieving adequate antenatal care coverage (ANC). This study aims to identify the key factors influencing prenatal consultation in Guinea. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted on Guinea’s 2018 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data. The study sample comprised women aged 15 - 49 who participated in the survey. Logistic regression was employed to identify the determinants of ANC utilisation. Results: Most women in the sample (59.1%) were aged between 18 and 30, resided in rural areas (69.8%), had no formal education (71.0%), had low incomes (43.4%), were married (91.4%), relied on the radio for information (63.4%), and were employed at the time of the survey (68.0%). The study identified several factors acting as barriers to meeting the recommended four ANC visits, including low education levels, with odds ratios (OR) of 0.43 (p = 0.011) for those with no schooling and 0.48 (p = 0.046) for those with primary-level education. Lack of radio access also negatively influenced ANC utilisation with an OR of 0.72 (p = 0.012). Additionally, delayed timing of the first ANC visit in the second trimester had an OR of 0.36 (p < 0.001), while in the third trimester, the OR was 0.04 (p < 0.004). On the other hand, factors that facilitated achieving the recommended four ANC visits included having an average wealth quintile with an OR of 1.63 (p = 0.002) and being wealthy with an OR of 2.30 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study underscores the negative association between low education level and poverty with ANC utilisation among pregnant women in Guinea. These findings emphasise the need for targeted interventions to address the barriers faced by vulnerable populations and improve maternal healthcare access and utilisation in the country.

Determinants, ANC, DHS, Guinea

Diallo, A. , Toure, A. , Magassouba, A. , Cisse, D. , Sylla, Y. and Barry, I. (2023) Analysing the Factors Affecting Prenatal Visits in Guinea: A Secondary Study of the 2018 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 13, 1417-1431. doi: 10.4236/ojog.2023.138118.