International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

E-ISSN: 2582-2160   •   Impact Factor: 9.24

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Volume 8 Issue 5
September-October 2026

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Socioeconomic, Cultural, and Institutional Determinants of Focused Antenatal Care (FANC) Utilization Among Pregnant Women in Selected Urban Health Facilities of Lusaka District, Zambia

Author(s) Ms. Bridget Fungwe
Country Zambia
Abstract Background: The World Health Organization's Focused Antenatal Care (FANC) model optimizes maternal outcomes through individualized clinical paths. Despite national policy integration in Zambia, late booking and suboptimal service utilization remain critical public health challenges. This study investigated the socioeconomic, cultural, and institutional factors influencing FANC utilization among pregnant women in Lusaka District.
Methodology: We used a convergent mixed-methods design across urban health facilities in Lusaka. Quantitative tracking monitored gestational timelines at clinical entry for an analytic sample of 68 women. Qualitative Focus Group Discussions and In-Depth Interviews explored maternal attitudes and systemic bottlenecks.
Results: Quantitative data revealed that only 20.6% of participants initiated FANC within the recommended first trimester, while 70.6% registered during the second trimester, and 8.8% delayed care until the third trimester. Qualitative findings identified severe institutional barriers, including prolonged facility waiting times and acute personnel shortages. Sociocultural constraints included rigid expectations surrounding early pregnancy concealment and a pronounced lack of spousal involvement.
Conclusion: FANC utilization remains critically inadequate in urban Lusaka. Suboptimal engagement is driven by a complex interplay of institutional resource constraints, deep-seated cultural norms, and restricted female autonomy in the absence of male partner support.
Keywords Focused Antenatal Care (FANC), Maternal Health, Late Booking, Spousal Involvement, Lusaka District, Zambia, Public Health.
Published In Volume 8, Issue 5, September-October 2026
Published On 2026-09-12
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i05.87597
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