Birth Preparedness Case Study

1.INTRODUCTION

1.1BACKGROUND

Birth preparedness is comprehensive strategy to improve the use of skilled providers at birth and the key intervention to decrease maternal mortality which is the process of planning for normal birth and anticipating actions needed in case of emergency. It encourages women, households, and communities to make arrangements such as identifying or establishing available transport, setting aside money to pay for service fees and transport, and identifying blood donor in order to facilitate swift decision making and reduce delays in reaching care once a problem arises [1]

There are three delays that impede mothers’ access to care; delays in deciding to seek care, delays in reaching care and delays in receiving care.

The International Conference on population and Development in 1994 had recommended reduction in maternal mortality by at least 50% of the 1990 levels by the year 2000 and further one-half by the year 2015.The Millennium Development Goals(MDG) of the United Nations has set the target of achieving 200 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2007 and 109 per 100,000 live births by 2015.

Every pregnant woman faces the risk of sudden, unpredictable complications that could end in death or injury to herself or to her infant. Pregnancy-related complications cannot be reliably predicted. Hence, it is important to employ strategies to overcome such problems as they arise [1]

Pregnancy and child birth related complications are the leading causes of mortality, morbidity and disability among reproductive aged women of developing nations than any other health problem [1-2]

Maternal morbidity and mortality can be prevented and minimized by the recognition of obstetrics danger signs by the mother and her families and seek to health care

Every day around 1500 women die globally from pregnancy and child birth related complications [1].

Reports from WHO in 2009 shows that there is 368,000 death of women occurred, for which developing nations accounts for 99% of the problem and 57% of this death is by sub-Saharan Africa [6].

According to Ethiopian Reproductive Health and Sexual Right (RHSR) policy of 2002, contains guidelines for BPCR. Other documents include Integrated Performance Standards for Reproductive Health, the Essential Health package of 2004, and The Roadmap for accelerating the reduction of maternal mortality in 2006.

According to Ethiopia FMOH, only 15% of deliveries are attended by health professionals. In countries like Ethiopia, where the maternal mortality ratio was 253\100,000 live births, Infant mortality ratio was 77/1000 live births and neonatal mortality ratio was 39/1000 live births are the highest in the world. In spite of the great importance of BPCR in reducing maternal and newborn mortality; it was not well known and practiced in most of sub-Saharan Africa including Ethiopia [7]. Therefore, the aim of this study is assessing knowledge and practice towards BPCR and its associated factors in the