ABSTRACT
Background: Antenatal care is an important determinant of maternal mortality rate of which live of the mothers and babies depend.
The study examine the knowledge and utilization of antenatal care among the women of reproductive age group in Ilorin East Local
Government, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria.
Methodology: The study was carried out among women of reproductive age group (15-49) years in Ilorin East Local Area, using a
descriptive cross-sectional study design. Data was collected using pretested, Interviewer administered, semi-structured questionnaire.
A total of 405 respondents were selected using multistage sampling technique. Most recent pregnancy was used as reference to obtain
all the necessary information. Data was analyzed using epi-info soft ware package and findings presented with appropriate tables.
Results:The result shows 355 (87.7%) of the respondents were aware of antenatal care. Among the 355 respondents that were aware
of antenatal care, 248 (69.9%) had good knowledge on the activities carried out in the provision of antenatal care services.There was
high antenatal care attendance, 311 (76.8%) of the respondents attended antenatal care with high patronage of government health
facilities by over three quater (86.5%) of the respondents that attended antenatal.
Conclusion: There was a high level of awareness and attendance of antenatal care with high patronage of government health facilities.
More than two third of the respondents that were aware of antenatal care had good knowledge on the activities carried out in the
provision of antenatal care. Education should be made free for all girls up to secondary school level. Antenatal services should be
made free for all pregnant women.
Keywords: Knowledge, utilization, antenatal-care, Ilorin-East