Profile and Utilization of Antenatal Care Services at a Rural Health Facility of Ahmedabad District, Gujarat: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Adequate antenatal care (ANC) is pivotal for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes, yet service uptake and quality remain sub-optimal in many rural settings of India.Objectives: To describe the socio-demographic profile of pregnant women attending ANC camps, estimate the proportion of high-risk pregnancies, and explore factors associated with ANC utilization at the Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC) of Narendra Modi Medical College, Jetalpur.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during six monthly outreach camps (June-September 2024).A pre-tested questionnaire captured socio-demographic, obstetric, and service-utilization data.Hemoglobin (Hb) was measured using Sahli's method.High-risk pregnancy was defined per Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan guidelines, including women with age <19 or >35 years, Hb <7 gm/dL, Rh-negative status, previous cesarean section, history of 2 abortions, malpresentation, or pregnancy-induced hypertension.Descriptive statistics and tests were performed.Results: Of 149 antenatal women (mean age 25.3 4.9 years), 32% had secondary education and 94% were homemakers.Anemia prevalence was 72.5%, predominantly mild (62.4%).Thirty (20.1%) women were classified as high-risk, most commonly due to prior abortion (63.3%).Only 13.4% availed of any government maternity scheme despite 86% possessing Mamta cards.Anemia showed no significant association with age, parity, or birth spacing, whereas graduate education was associated with longer birth intervals (p = 0.04). Conclusion and recommendations:The high burden of anemia and low uptake of social protection schemes highlight the need for intensified nutrition counseling, screening, and scheme linkage at rural ANC clinics.Strengthening community awareness and follow-up mechanisms could enhance utilization and birth outcomes.