Home birth in women who have given birth at least once in a health facility: contributory factors in a developing country

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2011 Nov;90(11):1239-43. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0412.2011.01163.x. Epub 2011 Aug 29.

Abstract

Objective: To study the link between patients' satisfaction about received services in health facilities and the choice of future delivery place of women who had delivered at least once in a facility.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Health district Gossas in Senegal.

Sample: Three hundred and seventy-three women who gave birth in the last 12 months.

Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire during an interview. Logistic regression was used to explore the determinants of childbirth at home using the Andersen behavioral model.

Main outcome measures: Place of delivery and satisfaction at reception and conduct of delivery.

Results: The average age was 28±6years. Among the women interviewed, 97% were married, 53% being in a polygamous system, and 18% were educated. Forty-seven per cent of them were satisfied with the quality of the last delivery made within a health facility. The prevalence of home birth was 22%. Home births were more frequent among women in a polygamous marriage [odds ratio (OR) 1.85; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-3.14], with no means of transportation (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.02-3.95) and who lived more than 5km from a health facility (OR 2.24; 95% CI 1.21-4.15). Poor quality of delivery in a health facility (OR 2.52; 95% CI 1.36-4.65) or a delivery done by a male provider (OR 3.90; 95% CI 2.30-6.65) were also risk factors for the choice of home delivery.

Conclusions: Particular emphasis should be placed on training healthcare providers to improve the quality of service provided to patients in health facilities.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Delivery, Obstetric / statistics & numerical data*
  • Developing Countries / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Home Childbirth / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Maternal Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Satisfaction*
  • Pregnancy
  • Quality of Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Senegal