Factors contributing to low institutional deliveries in the Marondera district of Zimbabwe

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to identify factors contributing to low instimtional dehveries in the Marondera District, Zimbabwe, among women who attended antenatal clinics, in order lo enhance the number of institutional deliveries. A quantitative descriptive survey, gathering data by conducting structured interviews with 80 women, was used in this study. All 80 women attended ante-natal clinics but 40 delivered at home and 40 delivered at an institution. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used to contextuahse the data. The research results indicated that factors that contributed to the low number of institutional deliveries included that women's minimal expectations of cleanliness and noninterference during labour and delivery could be met dtiring home deliveries: institutional deUveries' costs included travehng expenses, losing family support and the inability to meet cultural expectations: women's lack of knowledge about danger signs of pregnancy: and women's negative perceptions of nurses working at the institution(s). The recommendations include reduced costs of institutional dehveries: allowing family members (especially the mother-in-law) to be present during institutional deliveries and to perform cultural rimais whenever possible. The nurses' attimdes and competence levels should be addressed through in-service education sessions and sustained follow-up evaluations, including evaluations by pregnant women.