Timing and Factors Associated with Early Antenatal Care Initiation among Adolescent Mothers Attending Maternal Child Health Clinics at Two Urban Health Facilities in Nakawa Division, Kampala District Uganda

Background: Maternal health services including antenatal care have been shown to improve reproductive health outcomes of pregnant adolescents. However, most adolescent mothers attend their first antenatal care (ANC) visit later than the recommended time. There is insufficient data regarding the timing of the first antenatal care visit received by the adolescents residing in urban areas. Objective: To examine the timing and factors associated with timing of the first ANC visit among adolescent mothers residing in urban slum areas in Uganda. Methodology: This was a facility-based study which used quantitative data from 202 adolescent mothers aged 10 - 19 years within the slums of Nakawa division, Kampala district. We selected adolescent mothers who attended ANC clinics at the chosen health facilities using systematic random sampling and who were residents of Nakawa division. We used the modified Poisson model to identify factors associated with timing of ANC. Results: Among the pregnant adolescents participating, only about a third (35%) had the first visit to the ANC clinic in the recommended first trimester. Determinant factors for timing of ANC included occupational status of the adolescent mother, the gestation age at which the pregnancy was revealed, staying with the husband/partner and waiting time at the facility. Conclusion: To improve early ANC attendance, adolescent care providers should encourage family members of pregnant adolescents to give the needed emotional and psychological support. Community sensitisation about importance of early ANC should also be integrated within adolescent friendly antenatal care services.