Factors of Need for Antenatal Care and its relation to Mother’s Participation in Antenatal Education; Study in Semarang City, Indonesia

The low utilization of antenatal care routinely has an impact on the increasing difficulty of detecting potential risk of pregnancy complications resulting in maternal deaths. Knowledge constraints are the cause of the low utilization of antenatal services. Through the Antenatal Education (AE) class, it is hoped that mother’s knowledge and attitudes can be improved. AE class is not effective because of low participation of mothers. The purpose of study was to analyze the relationship need factors for ANC and their participation in AE class. It was a quantitative survey with cross-sectional design. Sample was 140 pregnant women that selected using purposive sampling based on characteristics of PHC.

The study showed no relationship between history of illness and pregnancy, perception of pregnancy, level of pregnancy complaints and perceived level of danger pregnancy for maternal participation in AE class. In a composite analysis it is proven that the need factors of pregnant women for antenatal care is related to the mothers participation in AE class. Mother’s perception of pregnancy is a key factor to increasing the taste and value of her needs. Increasing the sense of need can be done through improvement of women’s access and roles in the family and community about maternal health services. Continuous efforts need to be made as encouragement as well as support for AE class through structured and integrated socialization to every pregnant woman.