The role of Distance and Transportation in decision making to seek
emergency obstetric care among Women of Reproductive Age in South-South
Nigeria: A Mixed Methods Study
Abstract
Objective: to explore the role of transportation in seeking emergency
obstetric care among women with obstetric complications. Study Design: A
mixed-methods design that used both questionnaire and in-depth
interviews. Setting: The study was conducted in Federal Medical Centre,
Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria, between February and May 2015. Study
Population: The population for the study were women aged 15-49 years who
had experience direct obstetric complications and were attending the
health facility for care at the time of this study. Sample Size:
Three-hundred and eighteen (318) women attending the health facility for
emergency obstetric care completed the questionnaires, whilst in-depth
interviews were held for six women who were conveniently selected from a
large (318) quantitative respondents. Data collection and of Analysis:
Both questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were used in
collecting data for this study. Quantitative data were analysed using
Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) using both inferential
and bivariate analysis, whilst a qualitative content analysis was
carried out on the qualitative data. Main Results: Of the 318
respondents, 91.2% accessed health facilities by motorised transport
with 8.8% on-foot. Regularity at antenatal care was higher (92.9%)
among mothers who came to the health facility on-foot. None regularity
at antenatal care was also associated with travel time and road network.
Conclusions: The study concludes that efficient, favourable and suitable
transport system as well as cost are key factors influencing women role
in decision-making to seek care in the study area.