Antenatal Care: Utilization Rate and Barriers in Bosaso-Somalia, 2019

Mothers and children are among the most vulnerable population groups requiring special attention care. The fourth fifth Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) address child mortality maternal health, respectively. Although rate (MMR) has declined globally between 1990 2015 by 44%, World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 99% of global takes place in developing countries. Somalia one highest rates world, with 732 mothers dying every 100,000 live births. Mainly, such high MMR is outcome devastating civil wars disrupted country’s health infrastructure limited antenatal care (ANC) coverage (26% only). We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study using quantitative approach to identify ANC utilization barriers having less than year age Bosaso from October – November 2019. A sample size 384 was interviewed structured questionnaire, SPSS used analyze collected data. This found (84.1%) respondents utilized services during their last pregnancy, but only 28% them completed recommended number visits for pregnant women. main hindering were identified be distance centers, financial constraints, inadequate knowledge attitude husbands, poor healthcare providers, time family-related issues. Based on findings study, we recommend uplifting awareness family/mothers facilities.