Knowledge Attitude and Practice towards Antenatal Care among Pregnant Women Attending for Antenatal Care in SOS Hospital at Hiliwa District, Benadir Region, Somalia

Background: Antenatal care is one of the strategies aimed at addressing maternal mortality as it facilitates the identification and avoid pregnancy related problems and save lives of mothers and babies. Purpose: This study aimed knowledge attitude and practice towards antenatal care among pregnant women attending for antenatal care in SOS Hospital, Hiliwa District, Benadir region, Somalia during the period of the study from April 2021-July 2021. Methodology: The study was descriptive cross-sectional, retrospective hospital based;a total of 60 of pregnant women were enrolled in this study. Data were collected through interview method using structured questionnaire. Data analysis was used Statistical Package for Social Science version 20 for analysis (SPSS). Results: The study discovered a total of 60 respondents have participated of which 45 (75%) had knowledge towards antenatal care, while the study found that the sources of antenatal care information was;23 (38%) from health care providers at health centers and 10 (17%) from husbands. Among the study respondents 48 (80%) have convenience and accepted the utilization of antenatal care and a total of 51 (85%) were seeking permission for antenatal care visit. Also study respondents about 35 (58%) utilized antenatal care visit during their previous pregnancies and 25 (42%) did not. About 22 (36%) were preferred mother and child health centers, 10 (16%) were preferred public hospitals and few proportion 2 (5%) were preferred private hospital for antenatal care visit respectively. Finally the study showed that, multigravida, gestational months, seeking permission and spouse accompany to the antenatal care visit and level of awareness significantly contributed to the utilization of ANC by pregnant women in this study. Significant difference was strongly observed (P = 0.000). Conclusion and Recommendations: In conclusion, there was good knowledge and positive attitude towards ANC despite poor antenatal care utilization, the study recommended;the federal ministry of health incorporation with federal member states ministry of health should intensify national health education programmers aimed at promoting utilization of antenatal care services by increase the knowledge of mothers about importance of antenatal care and timely antenatal care booking and continue provide capacity building for health care providers across the country on national antenatal care ANC guidelines and policies.