Gorain, Ashoke, Anamitra Barik, Abhijit Chowdhury et al., “Preference in Place of Delivery among Rural Indian Women,” PLOS One 12, no.12 (December 2017), doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0190117

URL: journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0190117

Abstract

India accounts for the highest number of maternal and child deaths globally. A large body of empirical research suggests that improvement in the coverage of institutional delivery is essential to reduce the burden of maternal and child death. However the dynamics of choice of place of delivery is poorly understood. Using qualitative survey data consisting of twelve focus group discussions, conducted in a rural setting of West Bengal, India, this study aims to understand the reasons behind preferring home or institution for delivery. Findings reveal that some women who underwent an institutional delivery preferred to deliver their baby at home. On the other hand, of women who delivered their baby at home, 60% wanted to deliver their babies in institutions but could not do so, primarily due to the unwillingness of family members and misreporting of the onset of true labour pain. With the help of Accredited Social Health Activists, the village level health workers, there is need for an intervention that focuses on educating household members (essentially targeting husbands and mother-in-laws) about birth preparedness, and identification of true labour pain.

Gorain et al. (2017) discuss the educational, cultural, and familial challenges that face expectant mothers as they prepare for birth, and choose whether to give birth at home or in a medical facility, in a culture where their autonomy is limited. As global health concerns become increasingly urban, meeting the healthcare needs of individuals in rural locations is coming increasingly difficult.