Do Early Antenatal Booking Predicts Maternal Services Utilization? An Analysis of Data from the 2015-16 Tanzania HIV and Malaria Indicators Survey

Abstract Background Optimizing maternal and neonatal health requires adequate use of antenatal services which have both curative and preventive services. Little is known on the influence of early antenatal booking on maternal services utilization in Tanzania. Method: The study used data from the 2015-16 Tanzania HIV Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicators Survey (2015-16 TDHS-MIS). A total of 6924 women of active reproductive age from 15 to 49 were included in the analysis. Both univariate and multiple regression analyses were used to determine the association between early antenatal booking and maternal services utilization. Separate regression analysis was done for each antenatal service to establish the influence of early antenatal booking on antenatal services. Results Only 1586(22.9%) of pregnant women had early antenatal booking. After adjusting for confounders, there was a significant association between early antenatal booking and ever took iron supplement AOR = 1.603 at 95% CI = 1.362–1.887; ever took anti malaria, AOR = 1.495 at 95% CL = 1.306–1.712; ever took de-worming drugs; AOR = 1.404 at 95% CI = 1.24–1.59; adequate TT vaccination, AOR = 1.393 at 95% CI = 1.234–1.571, p < 0.001; ever checked blood pressure, AOR = 1.496 at 95% CI = 1.297–1.726; ever donated urine sample, AOR = 1.728 at 95% CI = 1.513–1.975; ever donated blood sample, AOR = 1.596 at 95% CI = 1.312–1.942 and adequate antenatal visits, AOR = 6.260 at 95% CI = 5.433–7.212. Conclusion The majority of pregnant women in Tanzania initiate antenatal clinics late in their pregnancy. Early antenatal booking showed a significant association with the utilization of maternal services during pregnancy. Innovative interventional studies are highly recommended to come up with cost-effective strategies which will improve timing for antenatal booking and hence use of the available maternal services in Tanzania