Utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services, as part of reproductive health care, presents a lifesaving chance for health promotion and the early diagnosis and treatment of illnesses throughout pregnancy. This study examines the factors associated with the number and timing of ANC visits among married women in Cameroon using data from the 2018 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey. The outcome variables were number of ANC visits, categorized as <8 visits or ≥8 visits, and the timing of first ANC visit, categorized as ≤3 months (early) or >3 months (late) (as per the new 2016 WHO recommendations). Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyse the data. Crude odds ratios (cOR) and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and p-values with significance at <0.05 were used to interpret the results. The proportions of women who had ≥8 ANC visits and first ANC visit at ≤3 months gestation were 6.3% and 35.6% respectively. Women aged 35–39 at childbirth (aOR=3.99, 95% CI=1.30–12.23), middle wealth quintile women (aOR=3.22, 95% CI=1.01–10.27), women whose husbands had secondary (aOR=7.00, 95% CI=2.26–21.71) or higher (aOR=16.93, 95% CI=4.91–58.34) education were more likely to have ≥8 ANC visits. Early timing of first ANC visit was low among women with birth order 3–4 (aOR=0.63, 95% CI=0.46–0.85). Conversely, the likelihood of having early ANC visits was high among women whose pregnancies were intended (aOR=1.32, 95% CI=1.01–1.74), the richest women (aOR=3.89, 95% CI=2.30–6.57) and women whose husbands had secondary (aOR=2.41, 95% CI=1.70–3.64) or higher (aOR=3.12, 95% CI=2.40–7.46) education. The study highlights that age at childbirth, wealth, husband’s educational attainment, birth order and pregnancy intention could influence the utilization of ANC services among married women in Cameroon. Hence, to improve attendance and early initiation of ANC, interventions should be targeted at empowering women financially and removing all financial barriers associated with accessing ANC, improving ANC education among women and encouraging male involvement in ANC education.

中文翻译：

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与喀麦隆已婚妇女产前检查次数和时间相关的因素：来自 2018 年喀麦隆人口与健康调查的证据

使用产前保健 (ANC) 服务作为生殖保健的一部分，为整个孕期的健康促进和疾病的早期诊断和治疗提供了挽救生命的机会。本研究使用 2018 年喀麦隆人口与健康调查的数据，研究了与喀麦隆已婚妇女非国大就诊次数和时间相关的因素。结果变量是 ANC 就诊次数，分类为 <8 次就诊或 ≥8 次就诊，以及首次 ANC 就诊时间，分类为 ≤3 个月（早期）或 >3 个月（晚期）（根据 2016 年 WHO 新建议）。使用描述性统计和二元逻辑回归分析数据。粗比值比 (cOR) 和调整比值比 (aOR) 和p- 具有 <0.05 显着性的值用于解释结果。在≤3个月的妊娠期间进行≥8次ANC就诊和首次ANC就诊的女性比例分别为6.3%和35.6%。分娩时 35-39 岁的女性（aOR=3.99, 95% CI=1.30-12.23），中等财富五分之一女性（aOR=3.22, 95% CI=1.01-10.27），丈夫有中学的女性（aOR=7.00, 95 % CI=2.26–21.71) 或更高 (aOR=16.93, 95% CI=4.91–58.34) 教育更有可能进行 ≥8 次 ANC 就诊。在出生顺序为 3-4 的女性中，首次 ANC 就诊的早期时间较低（aOR=0.63, 95% CI=0.46-0.85）。相反，计划怀孕的女性（aOR=1.32, 95% CI=1.01-1.74）、最富有的女性（aOR=3.89, 95% CI=2.30-6.57）和丈夫有次要 (aOR=2.41, 95% CI=1.70–3.64) 或更高 (aOR=3.12, 95% CI=2.40–7.46) 教育。该研究强调，分娩年龄、财富、丈夫的受教育程度、出生顺序和怀孕意愿可能会影响喀麦隆已婚妇女对 ANC 服务的利用。因此，为了提高 ANC 的出勤率和早期启动，干预措施应针对在经济上赋予女性权力，消除与获得 ANC 相关的所有经济障碍，改善女性的 ANC 教育，并鼓励男性参与 ANC 教育。