Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the utilization level of prenatal care services by pregnant women living in three different neighborhoods of Izmirs Bornova district. It was also aimed to determine their prenatal care providers and a regular source of care. Method: This cross-sectional study consists of 223 women living in Mevlana, Naldoken and Altindag neighborhoods of Bornova district who were in their second or third trimesters during April June 2013 period. 214 women were initially interviewed during their pregnancy and 182 (85.0%) of these women were also interviewed after giving birth. Study data was collected by administrating a face-to-face questionnaire. Dependent variables include; the total number of prenatal care visits, the primary, secondary and tertiary care, the total number of private prenatal care visits, and regular sources of care. Results: The mean number of prenatal care visits was 12.41±4.33. Pregnant women with an at least primary school education, a health insurance, speak Turkish as a mother tongue and live in a nuclear family receive more prenatal care and also secondary-tertiary care. If the woman has at least primary school education and her husband secondary school or more, speaks Turkish as a mother tongue and has an income level more than the minimum wage then these are the effective variables for receiving private prenatal care. Linear regression analysis showed that have a health insurance and live in a nuclear family were the independent predictors of the total number of prenatal care visits and have a health insurance, live in a nuclear family and speak Turkish as a mother tongue were the independent predictors of the number of secondary-tertiary care. Among the women women who receive prenatal care from a regular source of care this provider was an obstetrician (75.0%) or primary care (23.2%). Conclusion: It has been determined that the number of secondary care received was high and that there were inequalities in relation to the sociodemographic factors when utilizing the services. The primary care does not play a significant role as a regular source of care. New studies should be made regarding the service policies of the secondary health care providers that affect the prenatal care demand and also the coordination role of the primary care
Key words: Prenatal care, primary care, health institution, regular sources of care Article Language: Turkish English
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