부산대학교 도서관

Background/Aims:In developing countries, such as Nigeria, the risk of maternal death is 1 in 48 births. This is in part due to a skilled birth attendant not being available during childbirth. The majority of maternal deaths are avoidable and can be prevented if births are conducted by a skilled birth attendant, such as a midwife. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out to examine factors influencing women's choice of place to give birth.Methods:Random sampling was employed to select health facilities and purposive sampling was used to recruit participants (n=400). A self-reported structured questionnaire was administered to generate data.Results:The majority of respondents were aware of health facilities offering maternity services where they lived, with 313 respondents (79.2%) indicating their preferred place of birth was the hospital. Several factors influenced women's choice of place of birth, particularly level of education, parity and religion.Conclusions:Birth outside health facilities in Nigeria is unlikely to involve a skilled birth attendant, which contributes to maternal and neonatal mortality. Health professionals involved in maternal and child health in developing countries should promote awareness on the importance of hospital birth.