Determinants of the Frequency of Prenatal Consultations among Women Giving Birth in the Maternity Wards of the Commune of Agbangnizoun (Zou), Benin

Antenatal care is a safe way to prevent pregnancy-related health problems, difficult deliveries and even further to anticipate low birth weight [1]. But pregnant women, especially in Africa, do not attend antenatal clinics as recommended by the WHO. The general objective of this study was to study the norm in terms of Antenatal Consultation (ANC) frequency as well as the determinants of the frequency among women who gave birth in the maternity hospitals of Agbangnizoun. Our research was a cross-sectional, descriptive, retrospective and quantitative type, which was carried out among 335 women in Agbangnizoun, Benin from 1 February to 3 April 2020 (3 months), in order to find out the general or specific characteristics of women that we associate with the frequency of prenatal consultation. At the end of the study, we found that 60%, 68% and 15% of the surveyed population had received ANC in the first, second and third trimesters, respectively. Ethnicity, income level of spouses over the three trimesters as well as the level of their knowledge and overall practice of ANC are determinants of the frequency of prenatal consultation.