Perception of orthodox health care centers among pregnant women attending traditional birth attendants clinics in two local government areas of Lagos State.
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Date
2013
Authors
Okewole, A
Balogun, M
Aigbefo, S
Agbaje, L
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Clinical Sciences
Abstract
Background and Objective: Adequate antenatal care and skilled obstetric assistance during delivery
are important strategies that significantly reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. This study aimed
to assess the awareness, attitudes and perception of orthodox health care centres among pregnant
women patronizing traditional birth attendants in Mushin and Lagos Island local government areas
of Lagos state.
Methods: The survey was a community-based descriptive cross-sectional survey that employed
interviews to collect data from 300 antenatal care attendees of seven traditional birth attendants’
clinics in Lagos Island and Mushin local government areas between December 2010 and January
2011 using a structured questionnaire.
Results: The women ranged in age from 17-43 years with a mean age of 27.6 4.6 SD and most of them
were primigravidas (41.5%), married (88%) and traders (44.1%). Most of the women (61%) and their
husbands (56.7%) had completed their secondary education. The majority (81.7%) of respondents
were aware of a modern health facility around where they lived, the most commonly known being
private hospitals (43.7%). Most of them (67.3%) were aware of antenatal care services provided at
these facilities but only 31.3% had ever made use of the antenatal services. Most of the women were
not willing to deliver in hospitals because they didn’t like the attitude of the health workers (37.3%)
and because it was far from their houses (12.7%); the majority (75%) preferring to deliver with
traditional birth attendants because they give good service. However, almost all (98.5%) of the
women that had children took them to the orthodox health facilities for immunization, primarily the
primary health care centers (55.7%).
Conclusion: Traditional birth attendants are patronized by a wide array of women who are aware of
orthodox health facilities but have a negative attitude towards their services. Improvements in
communication and interpersonal skills of modern health care providers and collaboration between
modern health care providers and traditional birth attendants are recommended in order to have
better maternal and child outcomes in Nigeria.
Description
Scholarly article
Keywords
Health centers , Traditional birth attendants , Pregnant women , Antenatal care , Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE::Social medicine
Citation
Okewole A, Balogun M, Aigbefo S, Agbaje L. Perception of orthodox health care centers among pregnant women attending traditional birth attendants clinics in two local government areas of Lagos State. Journal of Clinical Sciences 2013; 10(2): 13-17.