Birth preparedness and complication readiness among postpartum women in the Gambia

Abstract

Background: The birth preparedness and complication readiness strategy is an approach that intends to effectively use key maternal and newborn health services to reduce delays to appropriate care. Aims: To assess postpartum women's knowledge and to explore factors associated with birth preparedness and complication readiness in rural and semi-urban regions of the Gambia. Methods: A correlational study design was conducted between July and August 2015. A total of 197 postpartum women were recruited and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Findings: Overall, postpartum follow-up visits were low (4.6%) but lower in rural (0%) areas than semi-urban areas (9.1%). Most respondents had low knowledge of birth preparedness and complication readiness in pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period, and 90.9% had never heard the term ‘birth preparedness’. Place of residence, mother's educational level, distance from the health facility and the presence of a skilled birth attendant in last birth were found to be predictors of knowledge of birth preparedness and complication readiness. Conclusions: Postpartum follow-up visits were low, but lower in rural than in semi-urban areas. Knowledge of birth preparedness and danger signs during pregnancy, labour and postpartum was low. The independent predictors of knowledge were residence, mother's educational level, distance from the health facility and availability of skilled birth attendant.