Prevalence and risk factors for delayed antenatal care visits in Rwanda: an analysis of secondary data from Rwanda demographic health survey 2019-2020.

the prevalence of delayed ANC in Rwanda was 41% and the risk factors include: the number of children 4-6 (AOR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.2-1.6) and 7 or more children (AOR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.5-2.1) versus less than 3 children, unwanted pregnancy (AOR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.5-2.0), not covered by health insurance (AOR = 14, 95% CI: 1.2-1.6), woman´s education level: no education (AOR 2.6, 95% CI: 1.6-4.1), primary education (AOR 2.5, 95% CI: 1.6-3.7), secondary education (AOR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.5-3.2), woman´s occupation: informal (AOR 2.3 95% CI: 1.5-3.7) and unemployment (AOR 2.3. 95% CI: 1.4-3.7). based on the findings from our study, family planning services should be made available to all women of childbearing age to prevent unwanted pregnancies; female education should be considered a priority, promotion of health insurance coverage and community-based education about reproductive health to encourage the early seeking of care among women of childbearing age.