Socio-demographic Factors Associated with Home Delivery Assisted by Untrained Traditional Birth Attendant in Rural Bangladesh

Abstract

<b> </b> Delivery assisted by skilled birth attendant is recommended as a means to reduce maternal mortality. However untrained traditional birth attendant (UTBA) assisted home is very high in developing countries. The objective of this study is to assess socio-demographic determinants of UTBA assisted home delivery in rural Bangladesh. Data used in this study was obtained from women questionnaire of the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS). Mothers residing in rural Bangladesh, who gave valid information on both delivery place and assistance during delivery, were included in this study (n = 4983). Binary logistic regression model was used to explore factors influencing home delivery assisted by untrained traditional birth attendant. Most of the mothers (79%) reported to have delivered at home and of these home deliveries, 76% were assisted by untrained traditional birth attendant. In multivariate regression model, it is found that the odds of UTBA assisted home delivery decreased with mother’s education, husband’s education, higher wealth index, number of Antenatal Care (ANC) visits and media exposure. To reduce maternal mortality in rural areas of Bangladesh, program managers and policy makers should consider these factors in designing programs and implementing interventions.