Determinants of Home Delivery Among Expectant Mothers in Rural Areas: a Case Study of Women From Kasana Community, Luwero District.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze determinants of home delivery among expectant mothers in rural areas: A case study of women from Kasana Community, Luwero district. The study was based on three research objectives which were to find out rural women’s attitudes towards hospital delivery, to establish the comparative advantages of home delivery and to examine the quality of maternity services in home delivery. The study was carried out at Kasana health center in Luwero district town council which lies north of Kampala around distance of about 64 kilometers from Kampala.

The design was descriptive cross sectional which was used to collect data because people with firsthand information were interviewed and questionnaires were given to people with relevant information and the research was intended to get quality information. A total number of 100 women were used in order to avail necessary information and data about the study. The study adopted a random sampling but purposive strategy to ensure a representative sample of the target population.

The study analyzed the demographic information of the respondents which involved their age, sex, marital status, level of education, and occupations. The highest percentage of respondents was the youth indicating that their minds were still fresh to give clear and viable information and this therefore means that the data provided by the respondents was reliable to promptly answerer the research questions and realize the research objectives.

Regarding objective one, the researcher summarized that inadequate knowledge and skills for health workers on management of obstetrics cases were the barriers for delivery in health facilities, several studies found out that health workers tended to unnecessary refer pregnant mothers to higher level because they did not know how to use partogram which monitored the progress of labor and the women ended up delivering normally. Regarding the second research objective, the research summarizes that there are a lot of causes of home delivery, and regarding the third research objective the research summarized that the quality of maternity in home delivery is poor since health providers’ behavior and attitudes were also determinants of home delivery for pregnant mother, some of the health workers were very rude, using abusive language and refusing to assist the patients and these attitudes prevented women to deliver in health facilities however positive attitudes of health workers attracted women to deliver in health facilities. In conclusion, the researcher identified important determinants of home delivery among expectant mothers in Kasana community, Luwero district. Information will assist in planning interventions focused on reducing neonatal mortality with short-and long –term perspectives. The key issues for sustainable effects are increasing information available for women at village level and in the long run trying to raise the level of women’s education accompanied by the provision of a sustainable and effective healthcare delivery system.

Among other recommendations it is recommended that due to low literacy rates prevailing in the district, there is need to develop reproductive health programs that lead to closer and more community engagements with the health workers in order to sensitize the community and give correct information and message to guide women in decision making process, a study should be conducted to evaluate the causes of unethical and unprofessional behaviors of trained health workers in public health facilities among several others as seen in chapter five.

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