Background: Every year, approximately 500,000 women die and some 62 million women sufferrnfrom pregnancy and delivery related problems at the height of their productivity and familyrnresponsibility. Around 80% of maternal deaths are the result of complication arising duringrnpregnancy, delivery and puerperium. However, most of such deaths can be prevented by properrnutilization of maternal health care services provided in health institutions. rnObjective: The aim of this study is to identify factors influencing the utilization of antenatal carernin Dessie Town. rnMethods: The community based cross sectional study was conducted on the assessment of factorrnaffecting utilization of antenatal care among 682 reproductive age group women in Dessie town,rn2011. Single population proportion formula had been used to determine the sample size. Arnmultistage sampling technique was employed to select the study subjects. The town has tenrnkebeles and of these, four kebeles were selected through simple random sampling technique.rnAfter obtaining the total number of households from selected kebeles, participants were selectedrnthrough systematic random sampling technique based on population proportion to size method.rnBefore data collection, pre-test were undertaken on 10% of the total sample size i.e. i.e. 68rnmothers on non-selected kebeles in Dessie town to control the quality of data and thernrestructuring of questionnaire. Then, a face to face interview was carried based on the structuredrnquestionnaire. The collected data was analyzed by using Soft ware Statistical Package for SocialrnSciences (SPSS) and possible association were made by using Chi-square and P-value. Thernfindings were statistically interpreted and comparison was made with other findings. rnResult-A total of 682 mothers who gave birth within one year were interviewed among themrn630(92.4%) of mothers have used ANC in their previous (last) pregnancy. which showed thatrnthere is a high coverage of antenatal care in Dessie town. rnAssociations were sought between ANC service utilization during pregnancy by different sociorndemographic, obstetric and delivery characteristics. Women having college & university (postrnsecondary) education have used antenatal care 8 times greater compared with women who havernno formal education, AOR=8.2(1.1, 65). There was significant association between total numberrnof children & antenatal care that is for each additional child, the probability of having antenatalrnfollow up increased by twice , AOR= 2(1.4, 3.0). rnConclusions & Recommendations- In conclusion, this study showed better utilization ofrnantenatal care as compared to the national coverage. Family income, women education, numberrnof children were important determinant factors for ANC. Mothersâ€™ educational level, monthlyrnfamily income, religion, number of children, showed statistically significance association withrnantenatal care. Education was found to have an impact on the use of antenatal care servicesrnsuggests that improving educational opportunity for women may have a large impact onrnimproving utilization of ANC services in the nation.