Maternal Health Disparities and Antenatal Care Utilization: Interrogating Socio-Economic and Spatial Barriers Among Adolescent Mothers in Rural Senegal

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 7, July 2026 | pp. 41–48

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/000106

Research Article

Title: Maternal Health Disparities and Antenatal Care Utilization: Interrogating Socio-Economic and Spatial Barriers Among Adolescent Mothers in Rural Senegal

Names of Authors: Mariama Diallo¹, Thandiwe Ndlovu²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal; ²Department of Criminology and Forensic Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Abstract: Adolescent mothers in rural West Africa face extreme maternal morbidity risks driven by geographic isolation, prohibitive out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and adolescent stigma within clinical environments. This study investigates the determinants of inadequate antenatal care (ANC) utilization among pregnant adolescents aged 15 to 19 years in the Matam region of Senegal. A community-based cross-sectional survey was administered to n = 410 young mothers within 12 months postpartum. Logistic regression modeling indicated that only 31.7% completed the WHO-recommended 4-ANC visit minimum. Significant barriers included travel distance exceeding μ = 12.4 ± 2.8 km to the nearest functioning health post (odds ratio = 0.42, 95% confidence interval [0.28, 0.65]) and partner/family disapproval of reproductive health consultations. Financial constraints accounted for a 55% dropout rate after the first trimester. Qualitative data confirmed that judgmental attitudes from health personnel discouraged subsequent visits. Interventions must prioritize youth-friendly mobile health clinics, abolition of user fees for adolescent maternity services, and community sensitization campaigns targeting traditional community gatekeepers.

Keywords: Maternal health, adolescent mothers, antenatal care, health disparities, rural healthcare, Senegal

Manuscript Timeline: Received: 02 March 2026; Revised: 05 June 2026; Accepted: 18 June 2026; Published: 01 July 2026

Citation: Diallo, M., & Ndlovu, T. (2026). Maternal Health Disparities and Antenatal Care Utilization: Interrogating Socio-Economic and Spatial Barriers Among Adolescent Mothers in Rural Senegal. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(7), 41–48.

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