Abstract:

Respectful maternity care is that care provided to all women based on informed choice and continuous support during labour and childbirth. This study examined determinants of place of birth among post-natal women attending Rumuodumanya Health Centre in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, Nigeria. The aim was to ascertain the factors that determine the choice of place of birth among postnatal women. It was a phenomenological study that attempted to answer two research questions. The population for the study was a total of 31,440.64 post-natal women in Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State, Nigeria. The sample size was 8 postnatal women who consented to participate in the study. The data instrument was a self-structured and validated “Interview Guide on Determinants of Place of Birth among Postnatal Women Attending Rumuodumanya Health Centre (IGDPBPW)”. Data was analysis based on the themes generated by the participants’ comments from the interview conducted by the researcher. Findings showed that the women with high educational qualification and parity delivered their first baby in the health facility because it was their first experience. Majority of the women noted the caring, cordial relationship and good hospitality of healthcare workers motivated them to give birth in the health facility. Also, the study showed family members belief in hospital delivery and this to a large extent affected their choice of giving birth in the health facility. Majority of the participants choose to give birth at home because it is cheaper than in health facility. In conclusion, the women perceived that they were poorly treated by healthcare workers in the healthcare centre and therefore, continue to give birth at home and with the TBAs especially after their first pregnancy. Therefore, it is recommended that healthcare workers (midwives) should embark on community mobilization to create awareness and provide information to mother on the benefits of giving birth in the health facility and capacity building should be organized for health workers to improve on their knowledge of and attitude towards provision of respectful maternity care to ensure safe and high quality care for women of child bearing age and their infants.