Knowledge and Practices on Birth Preparedness among Expectant Mothers Seeking Antenatal Care at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana

Abstract

In developing countries, complications during pregnancy and childbirth are still a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the awareness and intention to use maternity services among pregnant women. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2016 to April, 2016 among mothers who attend antenatal care at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Using structured questionnaires, expectant mothers were assessed on knowledge regarding the risks associated with pregnancy as well as delivery and birth plan arrangements. Data quality was ensured via crosschecks and double entry into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20.01 for analysis. Demographics (age, ethnicity, education, marital status, occupation, etc) were summarized using frequency tables while the χ2 test was used to determine associations between respective variables. Variables that displayed significant associations were entered into a multiple logistic regression model to ascertain the strength of association (Odds Ratios) between respective variables. At the 95% confidence interval, a p-value less than 0.05 were deemed statistically significant. Strong determinants of women’s choice of facility delivery included: higher education (AOR=1.9, 95% C.I. 1.16-3.04, p=0.01), women with four or more (4+) ANC visits (AOR=5.4, 95% C.I. 2.54-11.29, p<0.01), women who disagreed to ‘home birthing tradition’ (AOR=2.4, 95% C.I. 1.18-4.85, p=0.02). Despite women having high level of knowledge on obstetric risk factors, preparedness for birth was shown to be low in this study. It is therefore critical for stakeholder to redefine strategies towards improving birth preparedness among women if the Sustainable Development Goals are to be attained.