Awareness and Perceptions of Antenatal Care Services Among Pregnant Women in a Rural Municipality in the Philippines
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64397/nepj.v02i01.2026.a41Keywords:
antenatal care, awareness, health belief model, maternal healthcare utilization, rural health unitAbstract
Introduction: Antenatal care (ANC) is a cornerstone of maternal and newborn health, facilitating the early detection and management of pregnancy-related complications. Understanding pregnant women's awareness and perceptions of available antenatal care services is essential for strengthening maternal health programs and promoting informed maternal healthcare-seeking behavior, particularly in rural communities.
Aim: This study assessed the level of awareness and perceptions of pregnant women regarding antenatal care services provided by the Rural Health Unit in the Municipality of Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Methods: A descriptive quantitative cross-sectional design was employed among 93 eligible women with incomplete or underutilized antenatal care services, selected through total enumeration from 210 women identified in Rural Health Unit maternal health records. Data were collected using a validated, researcher-developed questionnaire. Perceptions were assessed using selected constructs of the Health Belief Model (HBM): perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and perceived susceptibility. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, were used to analyze the data.
Results: Respondents demonstrated a very high level of awareness of antenatal care services, with an overall composite mean of 3.95 (SD = 0.23). Awareness was consistently high across all assessed ANC components, led by tetanus toxoid vaccination (Mean = 3.97), followed by biophysical assessment, micronutrient supplementation, and ANC’s role in preventing complications (Mean = 3.96). Based on the selected HBM constructs, respondents demonstrated a very high favorable perception of ANC benefits (Mean = 3.42, SD = 0.51), a high level of perceived barriers (Mean = 2.88, SD = 0.72), and a high overall level of perceived susceptibility to pregnancy-related complications after reverse scoring (Mean = 2.58). While respondents recognized the general seriousness of pregnancy complications (Mean = 3.05), personal susceptibility ratings remained relatively low (Mean = 2.10).
Conclusion: Pregnant women in the Municipality of Titay demonstrated a very high level of awareness of antenatal care services and generally favorable perceptions based on the selected constructs of the Health Belief Model. Although respondents recognized the benefits and overall seriousness of pregnancy-related complications, high perceived barriers suggest that awareness and favorable perceptions alone may not be sufficient to ensure consistent utilization of antenatal care services. Maternal health programs should therefore sustain health education and community-based outreach while implementing strategies that address contextual and practical barriers influencing maternal healthcare-seeking behavior.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Glenda M. Matusalem, MAN, RN , Ma. Christina B. Celdran, PhD, RN (Author)
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