Birth preparedness and skilled attendance at birth in Nepal: implications for achieving millennium development goal 5

Type Journal Article - Midwifery
Title Birth preparedness and skilled attendance at birth in Nepal: implications for achieving millennium development goal 5
Author(s)
Volume 29
Issue 10
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2013
Page numbers 1206-1210
URL http://www.midwiferyjournal.com/article/S0266-6138(13)00146-0/fulltext
Abstract
Objective
to assess birth preparedness in expectant mothers and to evaluate its association with skilled attendance at birth in central Nepal.

Design
a community-based prospective cohort study using structured questionnaires.

Setting
Kaski district of Nepal.

Participants
a total of 701 pregnant women of more than 5 months gestation were recruited and interviewed, followed by a second interview within 45 days of delivery.

Measurements
outcome was skilled attendance at birth. Birth preparedness was measured by five indicators: identification of delivery place, identification of transport, identification of blood donor, money saving and antenatal care check-up.

Findings
level of birth preparedness was high with 65% of the women reported preparing for at least 4 of the 5 arrangements. It appears that the more arrangements made, the more likely were the women to have skilled attendance at birth (OR=1.51, p<0.001). For those pregnant women who intended to save money, identified a delivery place or identified a potential blood donor, their likelihood of actual delivery at a health facility increased by two to three fold. However, making arrangements for transportation and antenatal care check-up were not significantly associated with skilled attendance at birth.

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