Awareness and Utilization of Antenatal Care Services among Women Attending Selected Primary Healthcare Facilities in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Aims: To assess the level of awareness and utilization of antenatal care services among women attending selected primary healthcare facilities in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and duration of study: Selected primary healthcare facilities in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, between June, 2025 and November, 2025. Methodology: The study included 297 women attending antenatal clinics in selected primary healthcare facilities. Participants were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire covering sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics, awareness of antenatal care services, and utilisation of antenatal care services. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27. Categorical variables were summarised using frequencies and percentages, while continuous variables were summarised using means and standard deviations. Results: Of 297 eligible women, 297 completed the study response rate of 100% Overall, 33.3% had high level of awareness of antenatal care services, whereas 19.2% had low level of awareness. High utilisation was recorded among 106 (35.7%) and low utilisation among 39 (13.1%). The majority of women across all age groups had moderate utilization of antenatal care services, ranging from 47.1% among women aged ≥39 years to 54.3% among those aged 18–24 years. High utilisation was most common among women aged 25–31 years (38.1%) and 32–38 years (38.0%). However, there was no statistically significant association between age and level of antenatal care utilization (χ² = 9.24, p = .161). Conclusion: The study assessed awareness and utilisation of antenatal care services among 297 women attending selected primary healthcare facilities in Oron, Akwa Ibom State. Antenatal care utilization was predominantly moderate across the age groups, ranging from 47.1% among women aged ≥39 years to 54.3% among those aged 18–24 years. High utilisation ranged from 28.6% to 38.1%, while low utilisation ranged from 10.3% to 17.1%.