Preferred Place Of Delivery By Women In A Rural Community Of Lagos State

Abstract

Background:  Maternal mortality ratio of 800 per 100,000 in Nigeria is about one hundred times higher than that of Europe. The uptake of health facility delivery in Nigeria is said to be 35% and the choice of the place of delivery is dependent on several factors. This study was conducted to assess the factors influencing the place of delivery by women in a rural community in Lagos, Nigeria.
Methods:  A descriptive cross sectional study involving women aged between 15 – 45 years in Agbowa, a rural community in Lagos State.
Results:  A total of 420 women were recruited, mean age was 31± 1.5 years. About 81% of the respondents preferred to deliver at the hospital, however 41% eventually delivered at the hospital during their last delivery. Cost, bad attitudes of hospital staff, long waiting time, long distance and poor hospital environment were reasons responsible for the non utilization of health facilities by women during their last deliveries. There was significant association between the educational statuses of the respondents and their spouses as well as the place of delivery.
Conclusion; There is need for the government to reorganize the health sector in such a way as to enhance access to the health facilities especially by the underserved rural communities.

Keywords: Place of delivery, women, reproductive age, rural.