Armaghane Danesh Bimonthly Journal (Oct 2007)
A Study of Factors Influencing Low Deliveries at Maternity Facility Centers in Kohgilouyeh and Boyerahmad Province in 2007
Abstract
Introduction & Objective: The Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran established maternity facilities in order to provide a safe delivery and reduce deliveries at home in rural areas. However, a few of deliveries in Kohgilouyeh and Boyerahmad province took place in these centers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the delivery status and factors influencing the pregnant women’s tendency to choose the place of delivery. Materials & Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on 747 participants in the rural areas that were covered by maternity facilities in the first three months of 1384. Data were collected by a self-structured questionnaire whose validity and reliability had been determined previously. Data of age, education level, parietal status, antenatal cares, decision-maker for the place of delivery, geographical access to maternity facility centers and the cause of avoidance of referring to the centers were determined asking the women. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and using X2 statistical test. Results: The results showed that overall 31% (230 cases) of deliveries took place at home and 51% (384 cases) at hospital, but only 18% (133 cases) of deliveries took place at maternity facility centers. There was a significant difference in antenatal education by midwives between women who delivered at home and those that delivered at maternity facility centers, showing that more educated women have managed to deliver at the maternity facility centers (p < 0.001). 58% of mothers had selected their delivery place by themselves, but in others the delivery place was selected by their mothers, mothers-in-law, their husbands, etc. Almost 79% (181cases) of mothers who delivered at home announced that geographical access (long distance) to the maternity facility was major problem. In addition, there was a significant association between literacy, living place and the number of previous pregnancies with selection of delivery place (p< 0.005). Conclusion: Findings showed that the most important cause of avoidance of referring to maternity facility centers, from women’s point view, was geographical access to maternity facility centers as well as antenatal education by midwives.
