Preeti K Mahato1, Edwin van Teijlingen2, Padam Simkhada3, Zoe A Sheppard4, Ram Chandra Silwal5. 1. Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, Bournemouth House, 19 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth BH1 3LH, UK. Electronic address: pmahato@bournemouth.ac.uk. 2. Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, Bournemouth House, 19 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth BH1 3LH, UK. Electronic address: evteijlingen@bournemouth.ac.uk. 3. Public Health Institute, Henry Cotton Building, 15-21 Webster Street, Liverpool L3 2ET, UK. Electronic address: P.P.Simkhada@ljmu.ac.uk. 4. Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Christchurch Road, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth BH1 3LT, UK. Electronic address: zsheppard@bournemouth.ac.uk. 5. Green Tara Nepal, GPO 9874, CPC 158, Kathmandu, Nepal. Electronic address: ramsilwal99@gmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In Nepal, both percentage of women giving birth at health facility and proportion of birth assisted by skilled birth attendant is very low. The purpose of this research was to identify predictors for choice of place of birth: either at home, primary health care facility (including birthing centres) or at tertiary health care facilites (hospitals and clinics). METHODS: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in seven village development committee of a district lying in plain area of Nepal: Nawalparasi. A structured interview questionnaire was developed and administered face-to-face. Descriptive analysis along with chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of giving birth at a health care facility. RESULTS: Women were significantly more likely to give birth at health care facilities compared to home if the distance was less than one hour, belonged to advantaged caste, had radio, television and motorbike/scooter, decision maker for place of birth was husband, reported their frequency of antenatal (ANC) visits at 4 or more and belonged to age group 15-19. CONCLUSION: The analysis indicates that husbands of women giving birth influence the choice of place of birth. The findings highlight importance of having four or more ANC visits to the health institutions and that it should be located within one-hour walking distance. Inequity in utilisation of childbirth services at health institutions exists as showed by low utilisation of such services by disadvantaged caste.
OBJECTIVE: In Nepal, both percentage of women giving birth at health facility and proportion of birth assisted by skilled birth attendant is very low. The purpose of this research was to identify predictors for choice of place of birth: either at home, primary health care facility (including birthing centres) or at tertiary health care facilites (hospitals and clinics). METHODS: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in seven village development committee of a district lying in plain area of Nepal: Nawalparasi. A structured interview questionnaire was developed and administered face-to-face. Descriptive analysis along with chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of giving birth at a health care facility. RESULTS:Women were significantly more likely to give birth at health care facilities compared to home if the distance was less than one hour, belonged to advantaged caste, had radio, television and motorbike/scooter, decision maker for place of birth was husband, reported their frequency of antenatal (ANC) visits at 4 or more and belonged to age group 15-19. CONCLUSION: The analysis indicates that husbands of women giving birth influence the choice of place of birth. The findings highlight importance of having four or more ANC visits to the health institutions and that it should be located within one-hour walking distance. Inequity in utilisation of childbirth services at health institutions exists as showed by low utilisation of such services by disadvantaged caste.