Unveiling the Sociodemographic and Socioeconomic Determinants of Antenatal Care Utilization in Bangladesh: Insights from the 2017-18 BDHS

Abstract Background Antenatal care (ANC) is indispensable for supervising and enhancing the health of both the mother and the baby during pregnancy. It helps to reduce the risks of complications and ensures better pregnancy outcomes. This study investigates the aspects that influence antenatal care (ANC) visits in Bangladesh, focusing on sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors. Methods The study used the most current, nationally representative data from the 2017–18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS). Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were conducted for bivariate analysis. The Boruta algorithm was utilized for variable selection. After employing various regression models, including Poisson Regression (PR), Negative Binomial Regression (NBR), and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), we evaluated their performance and selected Negative Binomial Regression for parameter estimation and interpretation. Results Our results reveal that less than 50% of women meet the WHO-recommended minimum number of ANC visits. Women with secondary and higher education (IRR 1.42 & 1.46, 95% CI 1.28–1.56 & 1.31–1.64), Rich wealth status (IRR 1.13, 95% CI 1.07–1.19), Cesarian section (IRR 1.28, 95% CI 1.23–1.34), media coverage (IRR 1.20, 95% CI 1.14–1.25) were more likely to have frequent ANC visits. Conversely, women with higher birth order (IRR 0.94 & 0.82, 95% CI 0.89–0.99 & 0.75–0.91), unintentional pregnancy (IRR 0.92 & 0.85, 95% CI 0.87–0.97 & 0.79–0.92) were less likely to have ANC vists. Conclusion Given that the majority of women in Bangladesh do not receive adequate antenatal care, achieving national and international maternal and child health goals will be challenging. This study identified factors hindering access to high-quality prenatal care, which the Bangladeshi administration should address through focused actions.