Abstract:
Background: High maternal mortality rate is one of the major public health concerns
in developing countries including Tanzania. Most of the deaths are caused by factors
attributed to pregnancy and childbirth. In Tanzania about 50% of women delivered in
health facility with wide variation among regions being lowest in Rukwa(30%) and
highest in Dar es Salaam(90%).
Objectives: The major purpose of the study was to determine factors that affect
delivery in health facility among recent delivered women.
Materials and Methods: A cross sectional analytical study was carried out among
women with children less than two years prior to survey in July 2012 in Nkasi
district. Household survey using structured questionnaire was used to collect
information. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17.
Result: A total of 368 women were recruited into the study, whereby (87.6%) were
below the age of 35 years, (91.6%) were married and (31.5%) were not able to read
and write. Majority of respondent attended ANC (98.6%), but only 44.0% delivered
in health facilities. Women with secondary education were six times more likely to
deliver in health facility compared to those with no education (AOR=6.15,CI=1.105-
34.232), where by those attended ANC more than four visit were two times more
likely to deliver in health facility than those who attended less than that.
(AOR=2.45,CI=1.500-4.156) and those living more than 5 kilometer were four times
less likely to deliver in health facility compared to those living within 5 kilometer to
health facility. (AOR=0.24,CI=0.130-0.43).
Conclusion: Maternal health services need to continuously sensitize to the
community so that the number of pregnant mothers delivered in health facility
increased to attain the National target and reduced maternal morbidity and mortality.
Recommendation: Based on these findings, increase the utilization of health facility
for delivery by improving education among girls, increase accessibility to health
facility and promote early booking and regular visits to ANC by women have been
recommended.
