Prevalence and determinants of late first antenatal care initiation in western Ethiopia: findings from a multi-centered cross-sectional study

The prevalence of late initiation of ANC was found to be high in the study area. Educational status below secondary school, unplanned pregnancy, lack of advice on when to start ANC, housewives and attending ANC at hospital were factors found to be significantly associated with the late initiation of ANC. Therefore, policies should be developed to increase support for female education, maintain women's empowerment initiatives through economic changes, expand family planning programs to decrease unplanned pregnancies, and increase awareness in the early initiation of ANC.