Table 3. Influences on initial commencement to ANC and perceptions of ANC Services.
| Reason | Frequency and (percentages) | |
|---|---|---|
| Reasons for late gestational age (≥20 weeks) at first ANC (n = 142) | No apparent reason | 42(31) |
| Was not feeling sick | 22(16) | |
| Fear, and shame (due to unexpected/unwanted pregnancy) | 16(13) | |
| Doctor’s recommendation | 9(7) | |
| Did not know she was pregnant | 9(7) | |
| To reduce the number of trips (ANC attendance is cumbersome / tiresome /tedious) | 9(7) | |
| Too small to be felt | 5(4) | |
| Did not know the right time to commence ANC | 5(4) | |
| Had visited TBA | 2(2) | |
| Already has experience | 2(2) | |
| Was on duty | 2(2) | |
| Reasons for early gestational age (<20 weeks) at first ANC booking (n = 45) |
Was feeling unwell | 19(42) |
| To check if the baby is progressing well | 7(16) | |
| Was told by mother to begin ANC | 4(9) | |
| To check mother’s blood (amount of blood and HIV status) and check if the baby is fine | 4(9) | |
| Was advised by doctor | 3(7) | |
| Personal decision (no reason given) | 3(7) | |
| To be able to detect pregnancy complications early | 2(4) | |
| Had experienced previous miscarriages | 1(2) | |
| Advised by employer | 1(2) | |
| To give birth to a healthy baby | 1(2) | |
| Reasons for visiting TBA services (n = 82) | To check whether the baby is well positioned; TBA reassures the position of the foetus or repositions the foetus if not in the correct side | 52(63) |
| To collect medicinal herbs (reported by both the sick and non-sick respondents) | 31(38) | |
| Numb legs and difficult to walk because of too much pressure of the baby on one side; TBA turns the baby, relieves pain and discomfort | 15(18) | |
| Lower back and abdominal pain. TBA gives pain relieve and curative herbs. | 6(7) | |
| To confirm expected date of delivery (EDD). | 5(6) | |
| Pre-term labour/cramps. TBA gives preventive herbs. | 4(5) | |
| Nausea, lack of appetite and vomiting; TBA gives herbs to counter the feelings and increase appetite. | 3(4) | |
| The baby was not making any movements in the uterus; TBA gives herbs massages and repositions the baby to enhance movements. | 2(2) | |
| Vaginal bleeding; TBA gives herbs that stop the bleeding. | 1(1) | |
| Opinions on general ANC Services at the health facilities (n = 186) | Not satisfied | 11(6) |
| Satisfied | 175(94) | |
| Opinions on general TBA care Services (n-82) | Not satisfied | 1(1) |
| Satisfied | 81(99) |