DETERMINANTS OF BIRTH-DELIVERY INTENTION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN ABEOKUTA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
Child delivery is a critical and sensitive stage of pregnancy. The study assessed the determinant of birth-delivery intention among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria.
Research designs used were descriptive and cross-sectional study design. The population of the study comprised of pregnant women who attended antenatal clinic. Primary data were collected through self-structured questionnaire and focus group discussion from 422 respondents through multi stage sampling procedure. Interview-guide was used for those who could not read and write. The variables were measured nominally and at interval levels. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results showed that the majority (32.7%) of the pregnant women fell within the age interval of 26 – 30 years while 22.5% were within the age range of 21 – 25 and 31 – 35 years. Religious wise, majority (61.8%) belongs to Christian’s category, 36.0% were Muslims and very few (2.1%). Most (97.9%) of the pregnant women were Yoruba by tribe, 94.5% of them has a formal education ranging from primary to tertiary education which revealed high literacy level. Majority (33.4%) were on their 2nd pregnancies while 32.5% were just on their 1st pregnancies. Almost all (98.8%) knew the benefits of immunization, 98.6% of pregnant women has knowledge that birth delivery at health institution is safe and 97.9% of them reveals that health institutions provide vaccination for both mother and child. Above half (57.1%) strongly agreed that immunization of a pregnant woman is very important and 51.2% of the pregnant women strongly agree that they have taken the necessary tests such as HIV/AIDS. Most (88.9%) of the pregnant women reported seeing health workers who take good care of them during Ante natal Clinics, 44.8% of the pregnant women reveal that the level of exposure is one of the factors always influencing their decision regarding their place of delivery and 39.3% always consider time and the condition of the baby in choosing place of delivery. Chi- square result reveals that there is significant relationship between age (x = 38.049, p< 0.05), religion (x = 34.330, p < 0.05), educational level (x = 16.192, p < 0.05), occupation (x = 274.999, p < 0.05), number of pregnancies (x = 16.338, p < 0.05) and the attitude of pregnant women towards attending ante-natal clinic in the study area.
The study concluded that there is a growing preference for facility delivery particularly among women with higher age group, education, income and those who had antenatal checkup. It is therefore recommended that since antenatal clinicis a big pillar for the remaining maternal health services, effort should be geared to increase Antenatal Clinic service utilization in the study area.
Keywords: Determinant; Birth-delivery; Intention; Pregnant women; Antenatal; Health.