article · Journal of Health Population and Nutrition
This mixed-methods study investigated birth preparedness and complications readiness (BP/CR) among recently delivered women in urban Lagos, Nigeria, aiming to reduce preventable maternal and neonatal deaths. The research involved 790 women, using questionnaires and focus group discussions. Findings revealed that only 26.6% of women were adequately prepared for birth and potential complications. Key components like identifying a health facility or a blood donor were poorly met. Predictors of better preparedness included older age, Yoruba ethnicity, lower monthly income, lower parity, mother or relative involvement in decision-making, recent delivery, previous facility delivery, and counselling on facility delivery. Barriers identified included traditional obligations, bureaucratic delays, financial constraints, and poor health worker attitudes. The study concludes that urgent, integrated interventions are needed to address these multifaceted barriers.
Low birth preparedness and complications readiness contribute significantly to preventable maternal and neonatal deaths, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Understanding the factors influencing preparedness and the barriers women face is crucial for developing effective public health interventions to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.
The abstract does not indicate a direct commercialisation pathway for this research. It focuses on identifying public health challenges and calling for integrated interventions and policy changes to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes, aligning with public health programme development rather than commercial products or services.
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Abstract Background Low- and middle-income countries bear a significant burden of the global maternal and neonatal mortality. Birth preparedness and complications readiness (BP/CR) reduces the risk of preventable deaths. Objective To assess BP/CR and predictors among recently delivered women in urban Lagos, southwest Nigeria. Methods This was a mixed-methods cross-sectional, community-based study involving urban women who delivered within two years prior to study. Recruitment was by multistage sampling method. Quantitative data were collected from 790 women using a validated questionnaire. Respondents’ level of BP/CR was measured using key components of BP/CR. Summary and inferential statistics were done. Predictors of BP/CR were determined by multivariable regression analysis. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were used to collect exploratory qualitative data using a semi-structured interview guide and were analyzed thematically. Results Mean age of 790 respondents was 31.1 years (SD 1.8). About 78% utilized formal antenatal care services and institutional delivery (74.6%) in their last pregnancy. Reported counselling on BP/CR was inadequate. Only 26.6% (95% CI 23.5 to 29.7) met three out of the four key BP/CR components hence ‘well prepared’ − 94.8% saved money towards the baby’s birth, 33.5% identified mode of transport ahead of labour or emergency, 29% identified health facility (HF) or skilled birth attendant (SBA) for delivery, and 9.4% identified blood donor for emergency. The predictors of being ‘well prepared’ were, older age ≥ 30 years (AOR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.25, 2.59), Yoruba ethnicity (AOR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.11), monthly income/allowance of less than the minimum wage (AOR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.23, 2.42), lower parity < 5 (AOR: 2.96; 95% CI: 1.28, 6.86), final decision on BPCR by mother or relatives (AOR: 2.00; 95% CI: 1.00, 4.00), recent delivery in the last six months prior to study (AOR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.11, 2.43), previous delivery in HF (AOR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.36), and receiving counselling on facility delivery/SBA (AOR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.15, 2.34). FGDs revealed that traditional obligations, bureaucratic delays, inadequate finance, and poor health worker attitudes, constitute challenges to adequate BP/CR practice. Conclusion The urban women were not prepared for birth and possible complications. There is urgent need for integrated interventions that address individual, family, community, and health system barriers to BP/CR practice to reduce maternal and newborn deaths and achieve sustainable development goals (SDG) 3.
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DOI: 10.1186/s41043-026-01420-9
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