Several factors may affect the choice of place of delivery among expectant mothers in Ghana and few studies have examined the choice of place of delivery with a focus on differences between rural and urban areas. In this study, the factors that influence the choice of place of delivery among expectant mothers in both rural (Tolon District) and urban (Tamale) settings in the northern part of Ghana were identified and compared using the conceptual framework provided by Thaddeus and Maine. A mixed-method study was used to examine expectant mothers and their responses related to factors that affect their choice of place of delivery through a concurrent triangulation using health professional interviews and a detailed participant survey.. The sample consisted of 552 expectant mothers between the ages of 15 and 49 years. Individual interviews were held with 8 health professionals (4 each from rural and urban areas) with a minimum of 5 years of work experience and a focus group discussion with randomly selected pregnant women and lactating mothers. Themes were generated through open coding of the interview data, while multiple regression was performed to identify the factors associated with choice of place of delivery, rural area, preference (60.1%) was for home delivery compared to 20.7% for urban participants. Statistically significant variables affecting the choice of place of delivery among study participants were found to be educational background, the experience of previous deliveries, the attitude of hospital staff toward pregnant women during labor, and frequency of accessing antenatal care. The study's implications may lead to positive change where stakeholders develop and implement policies to promote health facility delivery for expectant mothers in both rural and urban areas of Ghana.

Os resultados e a discussão estão apresentados no formato de dois artigos. Artigo 1 - Objetivo: O componente neonatal precoce mostra-se crescente, concentrando-se nos hospitais e demandando maior complexidade da atenção. Logo, o objetivo desse estudo foi analisar características dos hospitais que atendem ao parto, descrever perfil dos RNs e das mães e a mortalidade neonatal precoce, na RMSP. Métodos: estudo ecológico, baseado em dados do Sistema de Informações de Mortalidade SIM, Sistema de Informações de Nascidos Vivos SINASC e Cadastro Nacional de Estabelecimentos de Saúde CNES, vinculados por técnica determinística, obtendo-se uma coorte de nascidos vivos (NV) hospitalares ocorridos na RMSP em 2006, compreendendo 143 hospitais e 152.743 NV. Os hospitais foram classificados por nível de complexidade (presença de: UTI neonatal; UTI adulto, atividade de ensino, referência para parto de alto risco, segundo CNES e volume de NV). O perfil dos recém-nascidos e das mães foi definido com base no SINASC. A tipologia de complexidade e o perfil da clientela foram obtidos empregando-se análises de clusters e fatorial. Resultados: A complexidade foi classificada em 4 grupos na rede SUS e 3 na rede não SUS. O SUS responde por 62,6% dos partos que resultaram em NV e a rede não SUS por 37,3%. O perfil da clientela foi definido por 2 fatores: 1- Risco RN (peso ao nascer e idade gestacional); 2- Risco da mãe (idade, escolaridade da mãe e nº de consultas pré-natal). Há maior freqüência de RN de <1500g e muito prematuros no SUS. As mães atendidas no SUS apresentam perfil social semelhante. Na rede não-SUS o perfil das mães é distinto, com maior freqüência de mães de baixa escolaridade e adolescentes nos hospitais de menor complexidade. A taxa de mortalidade neonatal precoce foi de 5,6 NV, sendo 65% mais elevada na rede SUS (6,6 NV) que na rede privada (4,0 NV). Porém, não houve diferença estatisticamente significante dessas taxas entre os níveis de complexidade da rede SUS, exceto para os de altíssima complexidade. No grupo de RN <1500g há redução do diferencial de mortalidade entre as duas redes (22%), observou-se o mesmo no grupo de 1500 a 2499g, porém sem significância estatística. Já entre os RNs de 2500g e mais a taxa de mortalidade é 131% mais elevada na rede SUS. Conclusões: Na RMSP há forte presença de planos privados de saúde, contudo o SUS responde por parcela expressiva da atenção ao parto. A rede SUS atende mães e RNs de maior risco que a rede não SUS e apresentou melhores resultados na atenção aos RN de risco (<1500g) do que para os RN de 2500g e mais, mostrando a necessidade de aprimorar a qualidade da atenção ao parto e ao RN. Artigo 2 - Objetivo: descrever as características do recém-nascido e da mãe e da mortalidade neonatal precoce, segundo local de nascimento, na RMSP. Métodos: Utilizou-se coorte de nascidos vivos vinculados aos respectivos óbitos neonatais precoces, por técnica determinística. Identificou-se o parto domiciliar a partir das informações da DN e os ocorridos em estabelecimentos a partir da vinculação com o CNES. Resultados: Foram estudados 154.676 nascidos vivos, dos quais 0,31% ocorreu acidentalmente em domicílio, 98,7% em hospitais e menos de 1% em outro tipo de serviço de saúde. A mortalidade neonatal precoce foi menor no Centro de Parto Normal Isolado e nas Unidades Mistas de Saúde, condizente com o perfil de baixo risco obstétrico. As taxas mais elevadas ocorreram nos Prontos-Socorros (54,4 óbitos por mil NV) e nos domicílios (26,7), representando um risco de morte, respectivamente, 9,6 e 4,7 vezes maior que nos hospitais (5,6 óbitos). Conclusões: Apesar da alta predominância do parto hospitalar na região, há um segmento de partos acidentais tanto em domicílios como em prontossocorros que merecem atenção, por registrarem maiores taxas de mortalidade neonatal precoce. / Results and discussion have been formatted into two articles. Article 1 Aim: Early neonatal component has increased, is concentrated in hospitals and demands a more complex attention. Thus, the aim of this study is to analyse the characteristics of hospitals which attend child birth, the profile of newborn babies and mothers as well as early neonatal deaths in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (MRSP). Methods: Environment study based on data from SIM, SINASC and CNES linked through deterministic technique, obtaining a cohort of live births (LB) in hospitals in MRSP in 2006, encompassing 143 hospitals and 152.743 LBs. Hospitals were classified according to complexity level (presence of neonatal ICU; adult ICU, training activities, referral for high risk parturition according to CNES and LB volume). The definition of clientele profile was based on SINASC. Complexity typology and client profile were obtained through cluster and factorial analysis. Results: Complexity was classified in four groups in the SUS system (public) and three in the non-SUS system (non public). SUS answered for 62.6% of LB childbirths and the non-SUS system for 37.3%. Clientele profile was defined through two factors: 1- LB Risk (weight at birth and gestation period); 2- Mother Risk (age, schooling level, number of pre-natal consultations). Newborn babies under 1500 grams and preterm births numbers are higher in SUS. Mothers attended by SUS present a similar social profile. In the non-SUS system, the mothers profiles present a variation, showing a greater frequency of mothers with low schooling level and adolescents in the lower complexity hospitals. Neonatal death rate was 5.6% of LBs; in the SUS system it was 65% higher (6.6% LB) than in the private system (4.0% LB). However, there was no significant statistical difference among complexity levels in the SUS system, except for very high complexity units. For the newborn under 1500 g there is a reduction in the mortality differential between the two systems (22%); the same was observed in the 1500-2499g group, but with no statistical significance. On the other hand, with the newborn over 2500 g the mortality rate is 131% greater in the SUS system. Conclusions: There is a strong presence of health insurance in the MRSP. However, SUS answers for an expressive amount of birth care. The SUS system attends mothers and newborn babies under greater risk than the non-SUS system does and presented better results when attending high risk newborns (under 1500 g) than with newborns equal and over 2500 g, showing the necessity of improving attendance to delivery and newborn babies. Article 2 Aim: To describe the frequency and evaluate the characteristics to mothers and newborns, according to place of childbirth in MRSP. Methods: Linked dataset of live births and neonatal deaths through deterministic techniques. Home births were identified using information from DN and those occurring in establishments linked to CNES. Results: 154,676 newborn babies were studied, being 0,31% home born, 98.7% in hospitals and less than 1% born in other health care services. Neonatal mortality was lower in birth center and mixed health units, consonant with low risk obstetric profile. Higher rates happened in first-aid clinics (54.4 deaths per thousand newborn) and home births (26.7), representing, respectively, a death risk 9.6 and 4.7 times larger than in hospitals (5.6). Conclusions: Although there is a predominance of childbirth in hospitals, there is a portion of accidental births at home or in first-aid clinics which need attention due to elevated rates of neonatal mortality.

Os resultados e a discussão estão apresentados no formato de dois artigos. Artigo 1 - Objetivo: O componente neonatal precoce mostra-se crescente, concentrando-se nos hospitais e demandando maior complexidade da atenção. Logo, o objetivo desse estudo foi analisar características dos hospitais que atendem ao parto, descrever perfil dos RNs e das mães e a mortalidade neonatal precoce, na RMSP. Métodos: estudo ecológico, baseado em dados do Sistema de Informações de Mortalidade SIM, Sistema de Informações de Nascidos Vivos SINASC e Cadastro Nacional de Estabelecimentos de Saúde CNES, vinculados por técnica determinística, obtendo-se uma coorte de nascidos vivos (NV) hospitalares ocorridos na RMSP em 2006, compreendendo 143 hospitais e 152.743 NV. Os hospitais foram classificados por nível de complexidade (presença de: UTI neonatal; UTI adulto, atividade de ensino, referência para parto de alto risco, segundo CNES e volume de NV). O perfil dos recém-nascidos e das mães foi definido com base no SINASC. A tipologia de complexidade e o perfil da clientela foram obtidos empregando-se análises de clusters e fatorial. Resultados: A complexidade foi classificada em 4 grupos na rede SUS e 3 na rede não SUS. O SUS responde por 62,6% dos partos que resultaram em NV e a rede não SUS por 37,3%. O perfil da clientela foi definido por 2 fatores: 1- Risco RN (peso ao nascer e idade gestacional); 2- Risco da mãe (idade, escolaridade da mãe e nº de consultas pré-natal). Há maior freqüência de RN de <1500g e muito prematuros no SUS. As mães atendidas no SUS apresentam perfil social semelhante. Na rede não-SUS o perfil das mães é distinto, com maior freqüência de mães de baixa escolaridade e adolescentes nos hospitais de menor complexidade. A taxa de mortalidade neonatal precoce foi de 5,6 NV, sendo 65% mais elevada na rede SUS (6,6 NV) que na rede privada (4,0 NV). Porém, não houve diferença estatisticamente significante dessas taxas entre os níveis de complexidade da rede SUS, exceto para os de altíssima complexidade. No grupo de RN <1500g há redução do diferencial de mortalidade entre as duas redes (22%), observou-se o mesmo no grupo de 1500 a 2499g, porém sem significância estatística. Já entre os RNs de 2500g e mais a taxa de mortalidade é 131% mais elevada na rede SUS. Conclusões: Na RMSP há forte presença de planos privados de saúde, contudo o SUS responde por parcela expressiva da atenção ao parto. A rede SUS atende mães e RNs de maior risco que a rede não SUS e apresentou melhores resultados na atenção aos RN de risco (<1500g) do que para os RN de 2500g e mais, mostrando a necessidade de aprimorar a qualidade da atenção ao parto e ao RN. Artigo 2 - Objetivo: descrever as características do recém-nascido e da mãe e da mortalidade neonatal precoce, segundo local de nascimento, na RMSP. Métodos: Utilizou-se coorte de nascidos vivos vinculados aos respectivos óbitos neonatais precoces, por técnica determinística. Identificou-se o parto domiciliar a partir das informações da DN e os ocorridos em estabelecimentos a partir da vinculação com o CNES. Resultados: Foram estudados 154.676 nascidos vivos, dos quais 0,31% ocorreu acidentalmente em domicílio, 98,7% em hospitais e menos de 1% em outro tipo de serviço de saúde. A mortalidade neonatal precoce foi menor no Centro de Parto Normal Isolado e nas Unidades Mistas de Saúde, condizente com o perfil de baixo risco obstétrico. As taxas mais elevadas ocorreram nos Prontos-Socorros (54,4 óbitos por mil NV) e nos domicílios (26,7), representando um risco de morte, respectivamente, 9,6 e 4,7 vezes maior que nos hospitais (5,6 óbitos). Conclusões: Apesar da alta predominância do parto hospitalar na região, há um segmento de partos acidentais tanto em domicílios como em prontossocorros que merecem atenção, por registrarem maiores taxas de mortalidade neonatal precoce. / Results and discussion have been formatted into two articles. Article 1 Aim: Early neonatal component has increased, is concentrated in hospitals and demands a more complex attention. Thus, the aim of this study is to analyse the characteristics of hospitals which attend child birth, the profile of newborn babies and mothers as well as early neonatal deaths in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (MRSP). Methods: Environment study based on data from SIM, SINASC and CNES linked through deterministic technique, obtaining a cohort of live births (LB) in hospitals in MRSP in 2006, encompassing 143 hospitals and 152.743 LBs. Hospitals were classified according to complexity level (presence of neonatal ICU; adult ICU, training activities, referral for high risk parturition according to CNES and LB volume). The definition of clientele profile was based on SINASC. Complexity typology and client profile were obtained through cluster and factorial analysis. Results: Complexity was classified in four groups in the SUS system (public) and three in the non-SUS system (non public). SUS answered for 62.6% of LB childbirths and the non-SUS system for 37.3%. Clientele profile was defined through two factors: 1- LB Risk (weight at birth and gestation period); 2- Mother Risk (age, schooling level, number of pre-natal consultations). Newborn babies under 1500 grams and preterm births numbers are higher in SUS. Mothers attended by SUS present a similar social profile. In the non-SUS system, the mothers profiles present a variation, showing a greater frequency of mothers with low schooling level and adolescents in the lower complexity hospitals. Neonatal death rate was 5.6% of LBs; in the SUS system it was 65% higher (6.6% LB) than in the private system (4.0% LB). However, there was no significant statistical difference among complexity levels in the SUS system, except for very high complexity units. For the newborn under 1500 g there is a reduction in the mortality differential between the two systems (22%); the same was observed in the 1500-2499g group, but with no statistical significance. On the other hand, with the newborn over 2500 g the mortality rate is 131% greater in the SUS system. Conclusions: There is a strong presence of health insurance in the MRSP. However, SUS answers for an expressive amount of birth care. The SUS system attends mothers and newborn babies under greater risk than the non-SUS system does and presented better results when attending high risk newborns (under 1500 g) than with newborns equal and over 2500 g, showing the necessity of improving attendance to delivery and newborn babies. Article 2 Aim: To describe the frequency and evaluate the characteristics to mothers and newborns, according to place of childbirth in MRSP. Methods: Linked dataset of live births and neonatal deaths through deterministic techniques. Home births were identified using information from DN and those occurring in establishments linked to CNES. Results: 154,676 newborn babies were studied, being 0,31% home born, 98.7% in hospitals and less than 1% born in other health care services. Neonatal mortality was lower in birth center and mixed health units, consonant with low risk obstetric profile. Higher rates happened in first-aid clinics (54.4 deaths per thousand newborn) and home births (26.7), representing, respectively, a death risk 9.6 and 4.7 times larger than in hospitals (5.6). Conclusions: Although there is a predominance of childbirth in hospitals, there is a portion of accidental births at home or in first-aid clinics which need attention due to elevated rates of neonatal mortality.

Abstract Background: Although the maternal mortality ratio has dropped globally, the ratio is still unacceptably high in many low and lower-middle-income countries, like Bangladesh. Maternal deaths can occur from preventable complications due to pregnancy and childbirth. Delivery at a health institution was proven to be one of the key interventions to minimize maternal mortality. This study aimed at investigating the associations between the socio-demographic and healthcare-related factors, and the place of delivery among ever-married women of reproductive age in Bangladesh.  Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 4487 ever-married women, aged 15-49 years. Data were extracted from the 2014 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. To investigate the associations, multivariate logistic regression was performed.   Results: Of the 4487 ever-married women, 1794 (40%) gave birth by institutional delivery. Multivariate logistic regression showed that wealthier women, attending secondary or above education levels, and whose husbands had primary or above education were more likely to deliver at health institutions. Women who received counselling about danger signs and attended at least one or more ANC visits during pregnancy had higher odds of institutional delivery. Women living in rural areas, following Islam religion, and who were currently working were less likely to deliver at health institutions. Conclusion: The current study revealed that the socio-demographic and healthcare-related factors were associated with the place of delivery among ever-married women of reproductive age in Bangladesh.

PURPOSE: The main aim of this study was to systematically assess women’s maternal health care seeking behaviour and its determinants in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. DESIGN: A quantitative and cross-sectional community based study was the selected methodology for this study. METHOD: Data was collected using structured questionnaire administered to 903 women aged 15-49 years through a stratified two-stage cluster sampling technique. Binary and multinomial logistic regression models were employed to identify predictors of adequacy of antenatal care and delivery care. RESULTS: Most of the women (97.9%) visited health care facilities at least once for antenatal care follow up. About 86.5% of them had at least four visits during their last pregnancy; and only 51.1% started their first antenatal visit early. Further, only about one out of five of the antenatal care attendees received sufficient content of antenatal care services. Consequently, only about one out of ten women received overall adequate antenatal care mainly due to inadequate use of the basic components of antenatal services. Most of the women delivered in public health care institutions (76.3%) despite the general doubts about the quality of services in these facilities. Women of better socioeconomic status preferred to give birth at private health care facilities. Caesarean section delivery rate in Addis Ababa (19.1%) is higher than the maximum WHO recommended rate (15.0%); particularly among the non-slum residents (27.2%); clients of private health care facilities (41.1%); currently married women (20.6%); women with secondary (22.2%) and tertiary (33.6%) level of education; and women who belong to the highest wealth quintile (28.2%). The majority (65.8%) of the caesarean section clients were not informed about the consequences of caesarean section delivery and about 9.0% of the caesarean section births had no medical indication. CONCLUSION: Disparities in maternal health care utilisation between the socio-economic groups was evident, requiring urgent attention from policy makers and other stakeholders to enable Ethiopia to meet its millennium development goal 5. Improving the quality of antenatal care in public health facilities which are the main provider of health care services to the majority of the Ethiopian population is urgent. The increase in the rate of caesarean section beyond the World Health Organization recommended upper limit has to be taken seriously. / Health Studies / D. Litt.. et Phil. (Health Studies)

PURPOSE: The main aim of this study was to systematically assess women’s maternal health care seeking behaviour and its determinants in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. DESIGN: A quantitative and cross-sectional community based study was the selected methodology for this study. METHOD: Data was collected using structured questionnaire administered to 903 women aged 15-49 years through a stratified two-stage cluster sampling technique. Binary and multinomial logistic regression models were employed to identify predictors of adequacy of antenatal care and delivery care. RESULTS: Most of the women (97.9%) visited health care facilities at least once for antenatal care follow up. About 86.5% of them had at least four visits during their last pregnancy; and only 51.1% started their first antenatal visit early. Further, only about one out of five of the antenatal care attendees received sufficient content of antenatal care services. Consequently, only about one out of ten women received overall adequate antenatal care mainly due to inadequate use of the basic components of antenatal services. Most of the women delivered in public health care institutions (76.3%) despite the general doubts about the quality of services in these facilities. Women of better socioeconomic status preferred to give birth at private health care facilities. Caesarean section delivery rate in Addis Ababa (19.1%) is higher than the maximum WHO recommended rate (15.0%); particularly among the non-slum residents (27.2%); clients of private health care facilities (41.1%); currently married women (20.6%); women with secondary (22.2%) and tertiary (33.6%) level of education; and women who belong to the highest wealth quintile (28.2%). The majority (65.8%) of the caesarean section clients were not informed about the consequences of caesarean section delivery and about 9.0% of the caesarean section births had no medical indication. CONCLUSION: Disparities in maternal health care utilisation between the socio-economic groups was evident, requiring urgent attention from policy makers and other stakeholders to enable Ethiopia to meet its millennium development goal 5. Improving the quality of antenatal care in public health facilities which are the main provider of health care services to the majority of the Ethiopian population is urgent. The increase in the rate of caesarean section beyond the World Health Organization recommended upper limit has to be taken seriously. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)