A Health Facility-Based Study on Utilization of Antenatal Care among Myanmar Migrant Women in Five Border Districts of Tak Province, Thailand Thein Nyunt Naing1, Laohasiriwong Wongsa2, Tu Aung Kay2, Soe Thin Thin2 1Student, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Thailand 2Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Thailand Online published on 23 December, 2019. Abstract Introduction Improvings utilization of antenatal care is one of strategies for achieving Millennium Development Goal of decreasing the maternal mortality. Thai Government health facilities provided same Maternal and Childcare services for migrants as Thai citizens. However, migrants’ utilization of ANC services was still challenged by many factors. There was limited information about Myanmar migrants ANC services utilization in Thailand Myanmar border among all five border districts in Tak province, where thousands of Myanmar migrants are living and working. Method and Materials Myanmar migrant women who had been living in the five border districts of Tak province, Thailand and delivered in one of the health facilities in five districts in September 2017 to March 2018 were interviewed face to face with a structured questionnaire during 12 weeks after delivery. Result In this study, 73.2% of migrant women received adequate AN care (at least four ANC visits), but only 29.9% received early and adequate AN care (the first antenatal visit was in first 12 weeks of pregnancy and at least four ANC visits). The study found that women who lived in other districts (AOR = 5.13, 95% CI = 3.32–7.94), had higher likelihood to get antenatal care than those who lived in Mae Sot district. The women with sufficient health literacy (AOR = 7.46, CI = 4.49–12.42) were also found to have more likelihood to get adequate and early antenatal care. Discussion Antenatal care utilization was associated with health literacy level, location of stay, duration of stay, household income, planned pregnancy or not, watched television and having health insurance. The results suggest that, as the vulnerable population at the border area, the migrant women should be targeted for bespoke health education messages on maternal health, especially the importance and necessity of antenatal care visits, especially in Mae Sot District. Promoting health insurance for the migrants would be another effective way to encourage migrant women having adequate and timely antenatal care utilization. Top Keywords Antenatal care, service utilization, Myanmar migrant women, Thailand. Top |