Access to antenatal care services promotes safe motherhood and delivery. It also improves maternal and neonatal outcomes. This study identified factors influencing the utilization of antenatal care services and health facility-based delivery. Methods: A community based cross sectional survey was conducted. Households were enumerated, and a systematic sampling method was used to selected one in four HHs.A sample size of 200 was used. Of the 200 HHs, 198 women who were pregnant or had previous deliveries were interviewed using pretested semi-structured questionnaires. Data was collected on socio-demographic characteristics, attendance at the antenatal clinic (ANC), institutional delivery, and reasons for non-utilisation of ANC services. Data analysis was conducted using Epi Info version 3.5.3. Results: The median age of respondents was 29 years (range: 17 - 55). Overall, 192 (97%) women had at least one ANC visit, 116 (58.6%) had ≥ 4 ANC visits and 93 (47.9%) commenced ANC in the second trimester in the last delivery. Sixty-nine (34.8%) had the last delivery at a healthcare facility while 125 (63.1%) had their last delivery at home by a traditional birth attendant (TBA). During these ANC visits, 33 (18.3%) received ≥1 dose of Tetanus Toxoid injection, 174 (87.9%) were counseled and screened for HIV and 74 (37.4%) received an along-lasting insecticidal net. The independent risk factors for utilization of ANC were partners’ consent (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)11.5; 95% CI 1.6-82.3) and knowledge on theimportance of ANC (aOR7.4; 95% CI 1.4-38.6). Pregnant women in a polygamous union were less likely to use to ANC (aOR 0.1; 95% CI 0.0 - 0.4). Being a woman with a lower educational status was associated with-assisted home delivery (aOR0.3; 95% CI 0.1-0.7). Conclusion and recommendations Most women utilized ANC services at least once but about half had World Health Organization (WHO) recommended focused ANC visits. However, the majority of the women did not book early for antenatal care and had unskilled home delivery. Community sensitization on the benefits of ANC utilization and institutional delivery should be targeted at women in polygamous unions, with low educational level and without partner’s consent for ANC.

Keywords: Antenatal care, utilization, home delivery, Jos Plateau Nigeria