PERCEPTION AND PRACTICE OF HOME DELIVERY AMONG MARRIED WOMEN IN RURAL AREAS OF BAUCHI LGA
Abstract
Background: Home delivery remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, particularly in
rural areas, contributing to high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality. Bauchi Local Government
Area (LGA) has one of the highest prevalences of home deliveries in the country, yet the underlying knowledge and perceptions driving this practice among married women are not fully understood.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and perception of home delivery among married women in the rural areas of Bauchi LGA. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 365 married women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in selected rural communities of Bauchi LGA. A multistage sampling technique was employed, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data, which are presented in frequencies and percentages. Results: The study found that a majority of respondents (68.5%) had practiced home delivery, primarily assisted by Traditional Birth Attendants (72%). Key reasons included financial constraints (36%) and lack of transportation (28%). While 60.3% acknowledged the importance of skilled birth attendants, a significant proportion (54.8%) perceived home delivery as safe, and nearly half (49.3%) were unaware of its associated maternal health risks. Low educational attainment (49.3% had no formal education) and farming as the primary occupation (54.8%) were predominant socio
demographic features. Although 31.5% of women preferred home delivery for future births, a combined 68.5% preferred various health facilities, citing better care (32.9%) and proximity (24.7%) as main reasons.
Conclusion and Recommendations: There is a high prevalence of home delivery in rural Bauchi LGA, driven by a complex interplay of perceived safety, lack of awareness of risks, and significant socio-economic and infrastructural barriers. Community-based health education, economic empowerment programs, training and integration of TBAs, and improvements in healthcare accessibility and quality are critically recommended to shift preferences towards safer, facility-based delive
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