To be or not to be: antecedent factors related to home birth among women in Sabo community of Ibadan, Nigeria

Aderonke Yerokun, University of Ibadan
Oyedunni S. Arulogun, University of Ibadan

Home birth (HB) accounts for 63% of place of delivery in Nigeria and factors driving the practice have not been fully explored. This study investigated the perception, attitude and practice of HB among 399 mothers of under-five children in Sabo community. Methodology consisted of a cross-sectional survey. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi square test at p<0.05. Age was 32.1+8.8 years, 79.4% perceived HB as safe, 61.9% registered for ante-natal but gave birth at home and17.2% had a skilled birth attendant present during HB. Factors responsible for HB practices included low economic status (36.8%), health worker attitude (24.3%), distance to health facility (4.5%), husband’s wish (2.5%), cultural style of kneeling down instead of lying when delivering (1.7%) and industrial action by health workers (0.8%). Significant association was found between educational level, socio-cultural belief and HB. Reducing HB practice demands a shift towards advocacy and community driven interventions.