Preferences of Place of Delivery and Birth Attendants among Women of Shashemene Town, Oromia Regional State
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Date
2012-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Clients’ preference to place of delivery and preferred types of attendants are considered important factors as generally female patients have the tendency to prefer female health professionals due to various reasons like communication style of female physician’s in the provisions of health care services. Findings show that Women are not using available and accessible maternity care services.
This is illustrated by very low institutional delivery and low skill birth attendance (SBAs) rates compared to high antenatal care (ANC). One potential reason for this could be the women’s preference to place of delivery and birth attendant.
Objective: To assess preference of place of delivery, delivery attendants and associated factors among women at Shashemene town.
Methods: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted with mixed approach on a total of 288 women who have child less than one year of age during the survey. Multi stage sampling technique was used. In addition 6FGDs and 2IDI were conducted purposively.
Quantitative Data was entered into EPI info and analyzed using SPSS 16.0 software. Analysis was done using different descriptive and inferential statistics. Logistic regression was used to control confounders and detects strength of association.
FGDs and IDI interviews were transcribed and translated into English from Afan Oromo and vice versa by two persons. Topic guides were reviewed manually and electronically, responses were coded into categories then grouped into theme thematically.
Result: out of 288 women of reproductive age who have less than one year old child 95.8% responded to the questionnaires. Only 34.9%, 22.6% and 42.5% of the women attended ANC during their first, second and third trimester respectively. Regarding place of delivery 36.2% preferred home as place of`1134ertyu;’delivering at health facility was high for those women whose income 1021-1530/month [OR 4.2, 95%CI: (1.97, 9.32)], education greater or equal to secondary [OR 6.8, 95% CI: (2.9, 15.8)] and positive husband attitude toward health facility [OR 4.8, 95% CI: (1.3, 17.96)]. The chance of giving birth at home was high for those aged between15-19 years (OR 6.3, 95%CI: (2.7, 14.9). Thirty percent of women explained as they feel comfortable being at home as the most frequent reason for not delivering at health facility followed by to gain family care (29%) and lack of privacy (16.2%) whereas, preferring health facility was mainly due to service quality (47.8%).
Conclusions: Most women preferred female health professionals to provide maternity health care. Still many women preferred home delivery. Socio-demographic and cultural factors were found to be barriers to preference of maternity care services.
Policies about maternity health careservices, education and women empowerment should take into account preferences of women. So, mitigation measure is in need to ensure right and informed choice for women to use maternity services justly.
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Keywords
Women,Delivery , Birth