Perceptional gaps among women, husbands and family members about intentions for birthplace: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective:women are more likely to give birth at a health facility when their families agree with the birthplace. However, in rural areas of Tanzania, women are often marginalized from decision-making. This study predicted birthplace intention and identified factors to reduce perceptional gaps among pregnant women, husbands and family members. Method:explanatory cross-sectional survey was conducted in three villages in North Eastern Tanzania. Participants were 138 pregnant women and their families who answered the Birth Intention Questionnaire (BIQ), measuring knowledge, attitude, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms and intention for birthplace. Descriptive analysis, ANOVA, Chi-square, and multiple linear regression was used to analyze the data. Results:the regression model showed that knowledge, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms predicted intention for birthplace (R2 = .28). While 81% of pregnant women thought their husbands were decision-makers for their birth, only 38% of husbands and 37% of family members agreed. Pregnant women had significantly lower scores on the item “I will prepare for childbirth with my family” compared with husbands (p < .01) and other family members (p < .001). Conclusion:providing evidence-based birth preparation and reducing the identified perceptual gaps may enhance women’s intention to deliver at health facilities.

Male partner involvement in birth preparedness, complication readiness and obstetric emergencies in Sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review

“…Socio demographic, attended ANC, experienced complications, knowledge of danger signs -Descriptive statistics and logistic regression See Table 3 1. † Shimpuku, Madeni, Horiuchi&Leshabari (2017) [ 38 ] To assess predicted birthplace intentions Pregnant women ≥16, (no psychological or physical illness), husbands and family members ≥16living with women (121: 42 pregnant women, 35 husbands and 44 family members) Non-probability sampling and purposive sampling via village leaders for pregnant women - Cross-sectional observational study −38 item study-specific birth intention questionnaire -Chi-square test, ANOVA, multiple regression, correlation See Table 3 .59† Uganda Kakaire, Kaye & Osinde (2011) [ 39 ] To assess factors associated with BPCR & level of male participation in the birth plan among emergency obstetric referrals Pregnant women admitted as emergency obstetric referrals Average for women and men: age 26, 32, 73 and 55% had no or primary education, 81% married (140) Purposive sampling for referrals Healthcare workers recruited participants - Cross-sectional observational study - Questionnaire: Socio-demographic, medical history, Birth preparedness, roles of spouses in birth plan -Medical records: obstetric complications, reasons for referral, obstetric care obtained at the referral and referring sites and availability of a birth plan - Frequencies, Chi-square test. Bivariate logistic regression.…”

A family-oriented antenatal education program to improve birth preparedness and maternal-infant birth outcomes: A cross sectional evaluation study

“…As the ‘ANC visit more than 4 times’ is an important factor that affects other outcomes [15, 16], the birth outcome variables were adjusted for ANC visits. Table 4 shows the ORs of the birth outcome variables in the comparison between the intervention group and the control group.…”

“…Firstly, the change in women’s involvement in decision-making for their birthplace had a unique cultural aspect that warrants discussion. In Tanzanian culture, many women lack the decision-making power within the family which hinders their birth preparedness particularly on transportation and birthplace as those require financial preparation [11, 12, 19, 20]. Moshi and Nyamhanga reported that men perceived their role in providing financial support; however, they tended to be less concerned about birthplace because they considered birth as women’s role [21].…”

“…The mother started bleeding after giving birth, thus both the mother and the baby were brought to the hospital, but it was too late to save either one of them. The story illustrated the importance of BPCR and family support, as most household decisions including the birthplace in Tanzania are made by the family members, particularly the husband, and not by the woman [11, 14–16].…”

“…In addition, the influence and decision-making power of the family cannot be ignored in Tanzania. Shimpuku et al identified perceptional gaps among family members who decide the birthplace and stated that many women considered their husbands as the decision-maker [11]. Tancred et al reported that women could not arrange transport to go to health facilities owing to financial constraints [12].…”