Factors Influencing Utilization of Institutional Delivery in the Okaikoi Sub-Metro of the Greater Accra Region

Abstract

Introduction: The place pregnant women choose to deliver is considered an important factor which has the potential to affect the health and well-being of the mother and the newborn. Obstetric care from a health professional during delivery is perceived as basic for the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality. This is because evidence from research shows that most maternal deaths and obstetric complications cannot be easily predicted and occur around the time of delivery. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess factors influencing utilization of institutional delivery among women in the Okaikoi Sub-metro of the Greater Accra Region. Methods: A facility based analytical cross-sectional study involving 212 proportionately sampled mothers who had delivered within the past 1 year before the study (March 2017-February 2018) and were accessing selected postnatal clinic within the Okaikoi sub-metro were used. Data was collected using a validated standardized questionnaire and analysed using proportions, Pearson‟s and Fisher‟s exact chi-square test and simple and multiple logistic regression. The software used in the data analysis was STATA version 15. Results: Findings from the study indicated a high proportion (90.1%) of the mothers utilized institutional delivery, while (9.9%) of them delivered at home. Factors associated with institutional delivery included partner‟s educational level, marital status, possession of valid NHIS, birth place decision maker, perception of difficulty in delivering at home and perception of cost of delivery in a health facility. Conclusion: The study showed that the use of institutional delivery among mothers assessing Child Welfare Clinic (CWC) in the Okaikoi Sub-metro was high and some of the factors that influenced it include; Women‟s autonomy in decision making, Possession of valid NHIS card, partner support in pregnancy, cost of delivery, marital status and birth place decision maker. This study has shown that the utilization of institutions for delivery by mothers assessing CWC in the Okaikoi sub-metro was influenced by interplay of economic and socio-cultural factors.