Title:
Factors and Perceptions that Influence Women to Use a Maternal Waiting Home (MWH) in Ifakara, Tanzania
Authors:
van Rijn, Maaike Josephina
Year:
2013
PAGE:
vi, 48
Language:
En
Subject:
Maternal Health – Lessons Learned
Keywords:
maternal mortality, maternity waiting home, birth preparedness, accessibility to obstetric care
Abstract:
Objectives: to identify factors that influence women to decide to use a maternity waiting home (MWH) in Tanzania and to identify the perceived quality of care of users and providers in order to make recommendations aimed to increase the use of the MWH by women. Design: Exploratory study using mixed methodologies including literature review, interviews and retrospective data analysis. Setting: maternity waiting home of the St. Francis referral Hospital in Ifakara, rural Tanzania. Participants: interviews were conducted with 18 users and non-users of the maternity waiting home and 7 interviews with health care providers. Findings: women who use the MWH home live mostly outside Ifakara and have often a risk factor for obstetric complications and subsequently have a greater chance of a complicated birth as determined by the birth ending in a caesarean section. Women and health workers describe risk factors and reasons for admission to a MWH differently. Conclusion: This study supports the assumption that MWHs are an approach to reduce the barrier of distance to the health facility for women who live far from maternal health services and have risk for obstetric complications. Women respondents (both users and non-users of the MWH) base their decision making on their perceptions of the severity of the problem in combination with the quality of care of the service. Implications: the findings about the concerns and priorities for women to make use of a MWH should be incorporated in future research to determine the potential for bring the model to scale.
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
,
VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
Department:
Development Policy and Practice
Country:
The Netherlands
Region:
Western Europe
Training:
Master in International Health
Category:
Research
Right:
© 2013 van Rijn
Document type:
Thesis/dissertation
File:
fpjHCev5bu_20161109092725130.pdf