The Significance of Socioeconomic Status to Complete Antenatal Care in Rural Philippines

Abstract

Wealth is expected to correlate positively with antenatal care, due to the costs of consultations, medications, and indirect expenses such as travel. This study examines the relationship between wealth and antenatal care (ANC) in rural Philippines, focusing on socioeconomic factors and antenatal care completion. Data from the 2022 Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) were analyzed, focusing on 2,798 Filipino women, aged 15 to 49, residing in rural areas who had given birth in the past three years. Socioeconomic status was the exposure variable, with ANC completeness as the outcome. Using binary logistic regression, the analysis controlled for age group, marital status, employment status, education level, and parity. The ANC completion rate in rural Philippines was about 23%. Women in the poorer wealth group were 1.56 times more likely to complete ANC than those in the poorest group (AOR = 1.56, 95% CI [1.56, 1.561]). Middle-class women were 2.89 times more likely (AOR = 2.89, 95% CI [2.89, 2.892]) to experience the outcome, while those in the wealthier group had a 3.17 times higher likelihood of experiencing the outcome. The most affluent women were 6.25 times more likely to complete ANC than the poorest (AOR = 6.25, 95% CI [6.25, 6.256]). These findings indicate a clear correlation between socioeconomic status and ANC completion in rural areas of the Philippines, with wealthier women being more likely to receive complete ANC.