Antenatal care (ANC) is essential for maternal and newborn survival, yet most women in Kenya delay their first visit, with only 29% initiating within the first trimester (KDHS, 2022). Early ANC enables timely detection of complications, facilitates preventive interventions, and leads to improved pregnancy outcomes.
Kenya has introduced major financing reforms, the Free Maternity Services Policy (2013) and Linda Mama (2017), which expanded access to skilled maternity care and increased facility deliveries. However, these policies have had limited effect on when women begin ANC. Hidden costs, knowledge gaps, cultural barriers, and uneven implementation continue to delay care.
Evidence shows that community-based strategies are the most effective drivers of early ANC. Download to read more:
Accelerating-Timely-Antenatal-Care-for-Healthier-Mothers-and-Babies.pdf
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