Ugandan women's childbirth preferences

Abstract

The 5th Millennium Development Goal (MDG) intends to reduce the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by 75% by 2015. Having childbirth managed by providers with midwifery skills is the most important intervention for promoting safe motherhood. In Uganda, reportedly 40% of deliveries are managed by skilled birth attendants. Structured interviews were conducted with 431 women who had given birth between July 2007 and June 2008, in Mukono district in Ghana. They were questioned about their preferred childbirth sites, and about factors influencing their choices. Identified childbirth sites included homes, traditional birth attendants (TBAs), private and public clinics. Reportedly 72% of these women used the services of skilled birth attendants. The choice of childbirth site depended on the pregnant woman but was influenced by health workers' attitudes, the locations of the sites, the antenatal clinic sites, the availability of supplies and drugs, and the availability of emergency obstetric care