KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE REGARDING ANTENATAL CARE AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE GROUP IN KATANGUA COMMUNITY, OGBOMOSHO-NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE.

Background: Antenatal care is an important determinant of maternal mortality rate of which live of the mothers and babies depend. The study examined the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding antenatal care among the women of reproductive age group in Katangua community, Ogbomoso North Local Government Area, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. Methodology: The study was carried out among women of reproductive age group (18-50) years in Katangua community, Ogbomoso North Local Government Area, using a descriptive cross sectional study design. Data was collected using pretested, Interviewer administered, semi structured questionnaire. A total of 287 respondents were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Most recent pregnancy was used as reference to obtain all the necessary information. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Results: The result shows 287 (100.0%) of the respondents were aware of antenatal care. Among the 287 respondents that were aware of antenatal care, 210(73.2%) had good knowledge on the activities carried out in the provision of antenatal care services, 226(74.1%) had good attitude towards antenatal care also 215(70.5%) had good practice on antenatal care. There was high antenatal care attendance, 268(87.9%) of the respondents attended antenatal care with high patronage of government health facilities by over two third 194(63.6%) of the respondents that attended antenatal. Conclusion: There was a high degree of antenatal care knowledge and attendance, as well as significant patronage of government health services. More than two-thirds of those who were aware of antenatal care had a solid understanding of the actions involved in providing antenatal care. Antenatal care should be made available to all women at no cost.