Individual-related factors contributing to late initiation of antenatal care among pregnant mothers at Nsangi Health Centre III, Wakiso District. A cross-sectional study.

Background: Individual-related factors such as maternal knowledge, pregnancy intention, parity, and decision-making influence the timely initiation of antenatal care among pregnant mothers. This study aims to determine the Individual-related factors contributing to late initiation of antenatal care among pregnant mothers at Nsangi Health Centre III. Methodology: A cross-sectional study design employing a quantitative research method was used to collect data, 44 respondents were sampled using a convenience sampling technique and a structured questionnaire; then data were sorted, coded, and entered into Microsoft Excel (2022), and the findings were presented in the form of frequency tables, graphs, and pie charts. Results: The study findings showed that the largest proportion, 20 (45.5%), of respondents were aged 26–30 years, whereas the smallest proportion, 6 (13.6%), were aged 18–20 years; 24 (54.5%) had attained secondary education, and 2 (4.6%) had never attended school. 29 (65.9%) were married, whereas 5 (11.4%) were unmarried. 34 (77.3%) were unsure whether religious beliefs encouraged ANC attendance, while 3 (6.8%) reported that religious beliefs did not encourage ANC attendance. 39 (88.6%) reported that they decided for themselves when to start ANC, whereas 1 (2.3%) indicated that other family members influenced the decision. 28 (63.6%) correctly stated that ANC should begin in the second or third month of pregnancy, while only 1 (2.3%) believed that ANC should begin at six months or later. Financial constraints were the most commonly reported reason for late initiation of ANC, with 30 (68.2%) respondents citing lack of money, while 14 (31.8%) reported lack of knowledge about when to start ANC. Conclusion: Despite high decision-making autonomy and reasonable awareness, some mothers still delayed ANC due to socioeconomic and knowledge-related barriers. Recommendation: Nsangi Health Centre III should strengthen health education and community sensitisation on the importance of early ANC initiation.