Application of zero adjusted models for modelling number of antenatal care visits of pregnant women in Bangladesh

Abstract

Antenatal care (ANC) visit is the key to monitor the status of a pregnancy, identify the complications associated with the pregnancy, and prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes. Lack of utilization of antenatal care is a major cause of maternal and neonatal mortality in developing countries including Bangladesh. This study aimed at modelling the number of antenatal care visits using Bangladesh Demography and Health Survey (2014) data. Since several count models such as ZIP, ZINB, HP and HNB have been implemented, this study have selected the best model based on AIC, BIC and Vuong test, and identified the reasonable factors that influence the antenatal care visits of Bangladeshi women. Among these models HNB model is found as the best model for modelling the number of antenatal care visits of women.