Antenatal
care visits are an ideal time to advise mothers and families
on essential pregnancy care to reduce stillbirths and
neonatal deaths, and develop a birth preparedness plan
[1]. In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 69% of pregnant
women receive at least one antenatal care (ANC) visit,
and 44% receive at least four ANC visits and the full
package of key interventions [1]. In addition to physical
and health systems barriers, in many settings, women’s
low status negatively impacts utilization of antenatal
care services. As compared to men, women often lack
decision-making power to allocate resources for healthcare
seeking [7,8], particularly in contexts where men
determine whether and under what conditions their
spouses will use health services [9,10]. This can prove
problematic particularly in households where men underestimate
the importance of antenatal care [1,11]. Even
following ANC consultation, women’s limited means and
authority to implement healthy home practices have
hindered development goals