Prevalence and predictors of institutional delivery among pregnant mothers in Biharamulo district, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: The Pan African medical journal 2015, Vol.21 (51), p.51-51
• Main Authors: Mageda, Kihulya, Mmbaga, Elia John
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; antenatal care services; Cross-Sectional Studies; Decision Making; Delivery, Obstetric - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health Facilities - statistics & numerical data; Home Childbirth - statistics & numerical data; home delivery; Humans; institution delivery; Maternal Mortality; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care - statistics & numerical data; Prevalence; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tanzania; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1937-8688; 1937-8688
• DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2015.21.51.6347

Giving birth in a health facility is associated with lower maternal mortality than giving birth at home. A recent Tanzania Demographic Health survey showed that, although more than 90% of pregnant women attended at least one antenatal clinic visit, only 50% of pregnant women delivered at a health facility. The aim of this study was to document the magnitude and predictors of institutional delivery in order to assist in setting priorities and developing appropriate intervention measures to reduce maternal mortality. We conducted a cross-sectional study of women in Biharamulo district who delivered during the year preceding the survey. Multistage sampling was used to obtain 598 participants. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was performed. 56% of women delivered in a health facility. Factors most strongly associated with institutional delivery were past care experience (aOR=265.1, 95%CI 28.6-2466.7), advice from health care provider to deliver at a health care facility (aOR=29.2, 95%CI 2.9-291.5), decision making on health care seeking on a pregnancy (aOR=7.1, 95%CI 2.7-19.0), maternal education (aOR=6.7, 95%CI 2.3-20.0), first antenatal care visit at