Determinants of noninstitutional deliveries in an urban community in Nigeria

Background: Maternal mortality in developing countries is an issue of global concern. Delivery attended to by skilled birth attendants is emphasized as an important strategy for reducing maternal deaths. Choice of birth place is determined by various factors. This study thus evaluates determinants of noninstitutional birth places and reasons for the choice among women in Aba, South-East, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was descriptive cross-sectional in design carried out among 420 women in Aba, a commercial city in Abia state, Nigeria. Cluster and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the study participants. Data was collected using interviewer administered questionnaire and analysed by SPSS version 17 software. Logistic regression analysis was done to determine predictors of noninstitutional birth places and the result presented in tables. Result: One hundred and sixty-four respondents (39%) had their last deliveries in a nonhealth facility with unskilled attendants. These places included maternity homes (10.2%), traditional birth attendants (11.9%), religious home (7.4%) and home deliveries (9.5%). There was statistical significant difference between age, marital status, level of education, number of living children and noninstitutional birth places. Reasons cited for choice of nonhealth birth places included cost, friendly staff and perceived experience of birth attendant. Conclusion / Recommendation: Noninstitutional birth places are still prevalent in urban communities and women prefer these birth places for diverse reasons. This study recommends an address of reasons for the choice of birth places among women. Background: Maternal mortality in developing countries is an issue of global concern. Delivery attended to by skilled birth attendants is emphasized as an important strategy for reducing maternal deaths. Choice of birth place is determined by various factors. This study thus evaluates determinants of noninstitutional birth places and reasons for the choice among women in Aba, South-East, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was descriptive cross-sectional in design carried out among 420 women in Aba, a commercial city in Abia state, Nigeria. Cluster and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the study participants. Data was collected using interviewer administered questionnaire and analysed by SPSS version 17 software. Logistic regression analysis was done to determine predictors of noninstitutional birth places and the result presented in tables. Result: One hundred and sixty-four respondents (39%) had their last deliveries in a nonhealth facility with unskilled attendants. These places included maternity homes (10.2%), traditional birth attendants (11.9%), religious home (7.4%) and home deliveries (9.5%). There was statistical significant difference between age, marital status, level of education, number of living children and noninstitutional birth places. Reasons cited for choice of nonhealth birth places included cost, friendly staff and perceived experience of birth attendant. Conclusion / Recommendation: Noninstitutional birth places are still prevalent in urban communities and women prefer these birth places for diverse reasons. This study recommends an address of reasons for the choice of birth places among women.