International
Journal of Basic, Applied and Innovative Research IJBAIR, 2014, 3(1):
2 - 7
RESEARCH PAPER
ASSESSMENT OF THE
BIRTH AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS LEVEL OF
PREGNANT WOMEN
ATTENDING ANTENATAL CARE IN A PRIMARY HEALTH
CARE CENTRE IN JOS,
PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
*1Envuladu E.A and 1Zoakah
A.I.
Department of
Community Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos.
Corresponding author:
esvula@yahoo.com
Received: 21st December,
2013 Accepted: 22nd February, 2014, Published: 31th March, 2014
ABSTRACT
Birth preparedness
helps ensure that women can access professional delivery care when labor begins
and reduces the delay that occurs when women experience obstetric
complications. This cross sectional study was aimed at assessing the birth and
emergency preparedness level of 250 pregnant women attending Antenatal Care
(ANC) in a Primary Health Care (PHC) in Jos North Local Government Area of
Plateau State, Nigeria. The subjects were selected through a systematic
sampling technique and the data was analyzed using SPSS version 17 statistical
software, and the results were presented in tables. The results showed that
161(64.4%) identified a place of delivery, 210(84%) said they wanted to deliver
in the hospital, while 40(16%) choose home as their preferred place. 135 (54%)
made arrangement for transportation, while 115(46%) did not. Only 58(23.2%) of
the pregnant women made arrangements for blood donation, while majority (83.6%)
of the women saved money for the purchase of delivery items. The
finding s of this
study suggests therefore, that a large proportion of the pregnant women did not
prepare for childbirth and emergencies especially the prior arrangement for
transportation and blood donation.
Key words: Birth,
emergency, preparedness, danger signs, pregnant women
______________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION
While there is no
universal definition for birth-preparedness, many packages that address birth preparedness
promote the following: preparation for normal birth by selecting a place of
delivery with a skilled birth attendant; preparation of essential items for
delivery such as a clean delivery kit; knowledge of danger signs for mother and
newborn and when to seek help; knowledge of where and to whom to go to for
help; arranging access to funds and means for emergency transportation and
medical care; and prior identification of blood donor (Baltimore, 2004; Moor,
2006). Generally, birth preparedness is a strategy to promote the timely use of
skilled maternal care, especially during childbirth, by relying on the theory
that preparing for childbirth reduces delays in obtaining quality care.
One of the major
reasons for the high maternal death recorded in the developing countries
especially in sub Saharan Africa is the inadequacy or lack of birth and
emergency preparedness, which is a key component of globally accepted safe
motherhood programs. Birth preparedness helps ensure that women can reach
professional delivery care when labor begins and reduces the delays that occur
when women experience obstetric complications (WHO, 2005; Hogan et al., 2010;
Stanton, 2004).
The current shift
from the “at risk” or “high risk pregnant” women to seeing that every pregnant
woman is “at risk” because of unpredictable complications like hemorrhage,
which is highly fatal if timely treatment is not obtained. This makes the package of birth
and emergency preparedness a very important strategy in developing countries
like Nigeria, where obstetric services are poor and obstetric referrals are
usually women of low status, contributing significantly to maternal and
neonatal morbidity and mortality (Kaye et al., 2003). Maternal deaths are
thought to occur due to three delays: delay in deciding to seek appropriate
care; delay in reaching an appropriate health facility and delay in receiving
adequate emergency care once at a facility. The first two delays may be reduced
if pregnant women are prepared for birth and complications (WHO, 1996).
The study therefore, is designed
to assess the birth and emergency preparedness level of pregnant women
attending antenatal care (ANC) in Jos north Local Government Area of Plateau
State, Nigeria.
Anthonio Research
Center © 2014 2 Envuladu and Zoakah, IJBAIR; 3 (1): 2-7.
ASN-PH-020919
ISSN: 2315-5388
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