Introduction: The present study was conducted to identify factors associated with late recourse to prenatal consultation in the city of Mbandaka. Method: This study was based on a case-control survey. A total of 650 pregnant women (325 cases and 325 controls) responded to a structured questionnaire. Cases were pregnant women seen late in the ANC service and each was paired with a control who came to the first antenatal visit in the first trimester. The data were analysed using SPSS 22 software where multivariate analyses based on the logistic regression model allowed the research objectives to be met. The risk of error considered was 0.05. Results: The factors associated with late recourse to ANC were: cost of ANC (p<0.01); lack of financial means (p<0.01); lack of motivation (p<0.01); shame (p<0.01); unavailability of the pregnant woman (p<0.01); traditional practice before performing ANC (p<0.01); parity (p<0.05) and marital status (p<0.05). Conclusion: The use of ANC remains late in Mbandaka. Any action aimed at encouraging pregnant women to start ANC in the first trimester of pregnancy should focus on improving the socio-familial environment, the service offer, socio-economic characteristics, socio-cultural characteristics and socio-demographic characteristics.