Perception of rural married women regarding provision of deliver care by midwives and traditional birth attendants, Myanmar

Abstract

Every year, more than half millions of women die complications of pregnancy and childbirth worldwide. All women need access to skilled health care in pregnancy, during childbirth, and after childbirth. Therefore skilled birth attendants (SBAs) at delivery are important for preventing both maternal and neonatal death. In Myanmar, a large proportion of delivery care in rural areas is provided by SBAs especially midwives. However, one third of women still deliver by traditional birth attendants (TBAs) which may lead to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. This study aims to find out factors influencing perception of rural married women regarding provision of delivery care by midwives and by traditional birth attendants. The secondary data on cross-sectional survey in two villages of Leiway Township in Nay-Pyi-Taw of Myanmar, 2011-2012among 246 married women who had experienced delivery a baby within 5 years was used. This study found that women's age, their education, household income regularity and knowledge on delivery care are the strong predictors of perception on delivery care by midwives and traditional birth attendants from multivariate analysis. In terms of their working status, maternal characteristics and access to delivery care did not yield significant factors on perception on delivery care. Health education about advantages of midwife assisting delivery care should be encouraged to the target group.