Addressing Underutilization of Antenatal Care in Sagar City: A Call to Action

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 400 postnatal mothers who accessed maternal and child health (MCH) services across different healthcare institutions, including district hospitals, medical colleges, primary health centers, and Anganwadi centers. Data collection took place from March 2020 to October 2021 using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Mothers from institutions were selected through convenient sampling, while simple random sampling was used for Anganwadi centers. Informed consent was obtained from all participants.Findings revealed high early registration rates but significant underutilization of ANC services. Although services were generally well-received, many women did not complete the recommended ANC visits, and iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation adherence was inadequate. Key barriers included lack of awareness, affordability issues, and limited accessibility. To enhance ANC utilization, targeted interventions should focus on increasing awareness, improving affordability through financial incentives, strengthening service accessibility, and ensuring high-quality ANC delivery. Aligning these efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to maternal health can help bridge existing gaps and improve maternal health outcomes in Sagar.