FACTORS AFFECTING THE ADOPTION OF HOME DELIVERY AMONG HAUSA WOMEN IN AKINYELE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA (LGA), OYO STATE

Abstract

Maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality remain one of the public health problems in Nigeria especially in Hausa
communities. The consequence of un-assisted delivery by skilled personnel in the home among Hausa women is life
threatening to the mother and child. This study was therefore designed to investigate factors influencing HBD among Hausa
women in Akinyele Local Government Area (LGA) Oyo State. The study was descriptive cross-sectional in design. A five-
stage random sampling technique was used to select LGA, three communities, (Sasa, Moniya and Akinyele), streets,
household, 400 consenting respondents who had delivered more than two children. A semi-structured, interviewer-
administered questionnaire which included questions on socio-demographic characteristics, 30-point knowledge of risks
associated with HBD was used for data collection. Knowledge scores ≤10, >10-20 and >20 were rated as poor, fair and good,
respectively. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and logistic regression model at p=
0.05 while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Age of respondents was 32.7±8.8 years. About Forty-nine percent
(48.8%) had no formal education, 53.0% had >5 children and 93.2% were Muslims. Knowledge score was 2.3±1.5 and 69.7%
had poor knowledge of risks associated with HBD, 43.3% correctly defined antenatal as care given to pregnant women during
pregnancy. Sixty-eight percent reported that pregnancy has no associated maternal risk and 75.8% said HBD cannot lead to
death of mother and child. Eighty-one percent said the first step to take when a pregnant woman is in labour is to call the aged
women to assist her. Ninety-five percent delivered their last baby at home and 83.7% reported they were satisfied with HBD.
Eleven percent 10.5% had ever visited health facilities for treatment or delivery and 3.4% received antenatal care during their
last delivery. Majority (89.7%) preferred to deliver at home if they were pregnant again. Overall 89.0% stated that HBD is the
better than hospital delivery and 59.0% said their culture did not support hospital delivery. There was a significant (p=0.005)
association between level of education and HBD. There was a significant association between parity >5 and HBD. Mothers
with more than >5 children were more likely to deliver at home compared with those with less than five children (OR: 4.1
=CI= 5.1-6.2). Home delivery is preferred mode of delivery among Hausa women. This is reinforced by socio-cultural factors.
Opinion leaders within the community could be targeted for proper health education to encourage hospital utilization for child
delivery