Factors Determining the Choice of Place of Delivery among Antenatal Attendees in Primary Health Care Centres in Lafia Nigeria

Abstract

Unskilled home delivery is a threat to maternal and child health. In Northern Nigeria, many pregnant women attend antenatal care but opt to deliver at home. This study determined knowledge on pregnancy outcome, the burden of home delivery, and factors contributing to the choice of place of delivery. A cross-sectional study was done with the subjects selected by multi-stage sampling. The data was analyzed using SPSS. Results were presented in frequencies and percentages with chi-square used in determining the statistical significance between the socio-demographic characteristics and the choice of a planned place of delivery. The mean age of participants is 27.6±5.0 years. Of the 404 participants and 43.3% are from the lower social status. Most participants were delivered at home due to sudden labour (25.6%), lack of transportation (20.5%), high cost of hospital deliveries (13.7%). Most understand that leg swelling may connote problems in Pregnancy, Hypertension can occur in Pregnancy, and a normal pregnancy may become complicated. Educational status, health worker’s attitudes, previous experience, ease of transportation, and numbers of parity are all significant determinants of the choice of place of delivery (p<0.0001). Most participants delivered in the hospital, but a significant number still delivers at home despite knowing that Hypertension can occur in Pregnancy and that normal Pregnancy can become complicated. Reasons for their decision were lack of transportation means, an attitude of healthcare workers, and high cost of hospital deliveries. The major determinant of choice of delivery place is; educational status, previous experience, and attitude of healthcare workers.