Abstract:
Background: In Tanzania, the information on Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness is insufficiently
provided to pregnant women and their families. The aim of this study was to evaluate the maternal and infant
outcomes of a family-oriented antenatal group education program that promotes Birth Preparedness and
Complication Readiness in rural Tanzania.
Methods: Pregnant women and families were enrolled in a program about nutrition and exercise, danger signs,
and birth preparedness. The cross sectional survey was conducted one year later to evaluate if the participants of
the program (intervention group) were different from those who did not participate (control group) with respect to
birth-preparedness and maternal and infant outcomes.
Results: A total of 194 participants (intervention group, 50; control group, 144) were analyzed. For Birth
Preparedness and Complication Readiness, the intervention group participants knew a health facility in case of
emergency (OR: 3.11, 95% CI: 1.39–6.97); arranged accompaniment to go to a health facility for birth (OR: 2.56, 95% CI:
1.17–5.60); decided the birthplace with or by the pregnant women (OR: 3.11, 95% CI: 1.44–6.70); and attended
antenatal clinic more than four times (OR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.20–4.78). For birth outcomes, the intervention group had less
bleeding or seizure during labour and birth (OR: 0.28, 95%CI: 0.13–0.58); fewer Caesarean sections (OR: 0.16, 95% CI:
0.07–0.36); and less neonatal complications (OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.13–0.60).
Conclusions: The four variables were significantly better in the intervention group, i.e., identifying a health facility for
emergencies, family accompaniment for facility birth, antenatal visits, and involvement of women in decision-making,
which may be key factors for improving birth outcome variables. Having identified these key factors, male involvement
and healthy pregnant lives should be emphasized in antenatal education to reduce pregnancy and childbirth
complications.
