Women’s Health Science Journal

Abstract

Despite the policy to stopping traditional birth attendants from conducting deliveries at home and encouraging all women to give birth at the health facility under skilled care, many women still give birth at home. A qualitative descriptive exploratory cross section survey was used to gather data by conducting structured interviews with 50 women of childbearing age who had a recent or previous home delivery. The following factors were found to be associated with home deliveries in Katondwe, Luangwa district; abrupt onset/precipitate labour, long distance/transport difficulties to reach the nearest health facility, having had successful HD, poverty/low income and gender though having a small percentage. Parity in which the majority were multiparas women, attitude was also associated with home deliveries and other unforeseen circumstances such as a funeral and being alone at home at the onset of labour.