Perceptions of users and providers on barriers to utilizing skilled birth care in mid- and far-western Nepal: a qualitative study
Background: Although skilled birth care contributes significantly to the prevention of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, utilization of such care is poor in mid- and far-western Nepal. This study explored the perceptions of service users and providers regarding barriers to skilled birth...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2014-08-01
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| Series: | Global Health Action |
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| Online Access: | http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/download/24580/pdf_1 |
| _version_ | 1818195848899592192 |
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| author | Sharad Onta Bishnu Choulagai Binjwala Shrestha Narayan Subedi Gajananda P. Bhandari Alexandra Krettek |
| author_facet | Sharad Onta Bishnu Choulagai Binjwala Shrestha Narayan Subedi Gajananda P. Bhandari Alexandra Krettek |
| author_sort | Sharad Onta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Although skilled birth care contributes significantly to the prevention of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, utilization of such care is poor in mid- and far-western Nepal. This study explored the perceptions of service users and providers regarding barriers to skilled birth care. Design: We conducted 24 focus group discussions, 12 each with service users and service providers from different health institutions in mid- and far-western Nepal. All discussions examined the perceptions and experiences of service users and providers regarding barriers to skilled birth care and explored possible solutions to overcoming such barriers. Results: Our results determined that major barriers to skilled birth care include inadequate knowledge of the importance of services offered by skilled birth attendants (SBAs), distance to health facilities, unavailability of transport services, and poor availability of SBAs. Other barriers included poor infrastructure, meager services, inadequate information about services/facilities, cultural practices and beliefs, and low prioritization of birth care. Moreover, the tradition of isolating women during and after childbirth decreased the likelihood that women would utilize delivery care services at health facilities. Conclusions: Service users and providers perceived inadequate availability and accessibility of skilled birth care in remote areas of Nepal, and overall utilization of these services was poor. Therefore, training and recruiting locally available health workers, helping community groups establish transport mechanisms, upgrading physical facilities and services at health institutions, and increasing community awareness of the importance of skilled birth care will help bridge these gaps. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T01:24:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2cae5d611d354e5bbfd189399cf25788 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1654-9880 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T01:24:43Z |
| publishDate | 2014-08-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Action |
| spelling | doaj.art-2cae5d611d354e5bbfd189399cf257882022-12-22T00:43:07ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802014-08-01701910.3402/gha.v7.2458024580Perceptions of users and providers on barriers to utilizing skilled birth care in mid- and far-western Nepal: a qualitative studySharad Onta0Bishnu Choulagai1Binjwala Shrestha2Narayan Subedi3Gajananda P. Bhandari4Alexandra Krettek5 Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal Nepal Public Health Foundation, Kathmandu, Nepal Nepal Public Health Foundation, Kathmandu, Nepal Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenBackground: Although skilled birth care contributes significantly to the prevention of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, utilization of such care is poor in mid- and far-western Nepal. This study explored the perceptions of service users and providers regarding barriers to skilled birth care. Design: We conducted 24 focus group discussions, 12 each with service users and service providers from different health institutions in mid- and far-western Nepal. All discussions examined the perceptions and experiences of service users and providers regarding barriers to skilled birth care and explored possible solutions to overcoming such barriers. Results: Our results determined that major barriers to skilled birth care include inadequate knowledge of the importance of services offered by skilled birth attendants (SBAs), distance to health facilities, unavailability of transport services, and poor availability of SBAs. Other barriers included poor infrastructure, meager services, inadequate information about services/facilities, cultural practices and beliefs, and low prioritization of birth care. Moreover, the tradition of isolating women during and after childbirth decreased the likelihood that women would utilize delivery care services at health facilities. Conclusions: Service users and providers perceived inadequate availability and accessibility of skilled birth care in remote areas of Nepal, and overall utilization of these services was poor. Therefore, training and recruiting locally available health workers, helping community groups establish transport mechanisms, upgrading physical facilities and services at health institutions, and increasing community awareness of the importance of skilled birth care will help bridge these gaps.http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/download/24580/pdf_1skilled birth careutilizationskilled birth attendantsbarrierqualitativeNepal |
| spellingShingle | Sharad Onta Bishnu Choulagai Binjwala Shrestha Narayan Subedi Gajananda P. Bhandari Alexandra Krettek Perceptions of users and providers on barriers to utilizing skilled birth care in mid- and far-western Nepal: a qualitative study Global Health Action skilled birth care utilization skilled birth attendants barrier qualitative Nepal |
| title | Perceptions of users and providers on barriers to utilizing skilled birth care in mid- and far-western Nepal: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Perceptions of users and providers on barriers to utilizing skilled birth care in mid- and far-western Nepal: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Perceptions of users and providers on barriers to utilizing skilled birth care in mid- and far-western Nepal: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceptions of users and providers on barriers to utilizing skilled birth care in mid- and far-western Nepal: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Perceptions of users and providers on barriers to utilizing skilled birth care in mid- and far-western Nepal: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | perceptions of users and providers on barriers to utilizing skilled birth care in mid and far western nepal a qualitative study |
| topic | skilled birth care utilization skilled birth attendants barrier qualitative Nepal |
| url | http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/download/24580/pdf_1 |
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