Assessment of knowledge, desire and preferred choice of antenatal clients about companionship during labour and delivery with associated factors in Addis Ababa
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Date
2018-06
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
Background: Labour is a period characterized by worries, fear of the unknown, emotional
disturbances, excruciating pain and increased potential maternal/newborn morbidity and
mortality. As part of effort to improve quality of care provided in health facilities during child
birth, companionship in labour was recommended by WHO. The women’s knowledge about the
right to have a companion in labour, desire and preferred choice as companion needs attention.
Objective: To assess the knowledge, desire and preferred choice of antenatal clients about
companionship in labour and delivery with associated factors in Addis Ababa health facilities.
Methodology: A quantitative facility-based cross-sectional study was carried out in selected
public healthcare facilities in Addis Ababa from February 1st to April 30th, 2018. Using multistage
sampling technique, 477 pregnant women participated in the study. A pretested interviewer
administered, structured questionnaire was used to obtain information. Data was entered in Epidata
version 3.1 and was exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. Logistic regression model
was used to assess associations between exposure and outcome variables of the study. P-value of
< 0.05 and 95% CI were taken as statistical significance level.
Result: The knowledge about the right to have companion of choice in labour and childbirth
(CCLC) in facilities was found in only 65 (13.6%) of pregnant women in Addis Ababa. Four
hundred and ten (86%) of them were desirous of CCLC in facilities and their predominant
preferred choice was husband 245 (59.8%), followed by mother 70 (17.1%), sister 62 (15.1%)
and friend 24 (5.9%). Past history of support in last delivery was associated with knowledge
about CCLC (AOR=3.392; 95% CI 1.200-9.588). Level of education (AOR=0.515; 95% CI
0.277-0.960) and ethnicity (AOR=2.451; 95% CI 1.126-5.335) were associated with desire for
CCLC. Level of education was associated with preference for both husband (AOR=0.141; 95%
CI 0.021-0.956) and friend (AOR=2.840; 95% CI 1.099-7.341) as companion, while marital
status was statistically associated with the preference for mother as companion (AOR=0.249;
95% CI 0.078-0.794).
Conclusion and recommendation: There is a very low knowledge among ANC clients in Addis
Ababa public facilities about the right to have companion of choice in labour and childbirth
(CCLC) while in facilities. Almost all the women desire to have CCLC with the husbands being
their most preferred choice as companion. There is a need to improve women’s awareness about
their right to have CCLC through mass media and other avenues such as integration into ANC
activities. Also, a clearly stated policy about CCLC should be enacted. Other studies to identify
possible hindrances to practice, the view of health facilities and providers about CCLC and the
view of husband and other potential companions about CCLC should be conducted.
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Keywords
Labour,pregnant women