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A strategy to increase the number of deliveries with skilled birth attendants in Kenya
Author(s) -
Tomedi Angelo,
Tucker Katherine,
Mwanthi Mutuku A.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2012.09.013
Subject(s) - medicine , health facility , kenya , intervention (counseling) , stipend , birth attendant , prenatal care , health care , family medicine , nursing , population , obstetrics , environmental health , maternal health , health services , economic growth , political science , law , economics
Objective To increase the number of deliveries with skilled birth attendants (SBAs) in Kenyan health facilities, with assistance from traditional birth attendants (TBAs). Methods In the Yatta district of Kenya, TBAs were recruited to attend meetings in which they were encouraged to educate pregnant women about the importance of delivering in health facilities; they were offered a small stipend for each pregnant woman they brought to a facility for SBA delivery. The primary outcome was the percentage of prenatal care patients who delivered at intervention health facilities compared with control facilities. Results During the year preceding the intervention, 102/524 (19.5%) and 413/2068 (20.0%) prenatal care patients had SBA deliveries at intervention and control facilities, respectively. During the 1‐year study period, 217/440 (49.3%) prenatal care patients delivered at intervention health facilities and 415/1995 (20.8%) delivered at control facilities ( P < 0.001). Deliveries at intervention facilities increased 113% in the study year compared with the preceding year. Conclusion The rate of SBA births in health facilities increased when TBAs were recruited and compensated for bringing women to local health facilities to deliver.