"It is not by choice that I gave birth at home": the social determinants of home births during COVID-19 in peri-urban and urban Kenya, a qualitative study.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth
; 23(1): 722, 2023 Oct 11.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37821855
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the provision of global maternal health services, with an increase in home births. However, there are little data on women's decision-making and experiences leading up to home births during the pandemic. The objective of this study is to examine the economic, social, and health system factors associated with home births in Kenya.METHODS:
Community health volunteers (CHVs) and village leaders helped identify potential participants for an in-depth, one-on-one, qualitative telephone interview in Nairobi and Kiambu County in Kenya. In total, the study interviewed 28 mothers who had home births.RESULTS:
This study identified a number of economic, social, neighborhood, and health system factors that were associated with birthing at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Only one woman had planned on birthing at home, while all other participants described various reasons they had to birth at home. Themes related to home births during the pandemic included (1) unmet preferences related to location of birth; (2) burdens and fear of contracting COVID-19 leading to delayed or missed care; (3) lack of perceived community safety and fear of encounters with law enforcement; and (4) healthcare system changes and uncertainty that led to home births.CONCLUSION:
Addressing and recognizing women's social determinants of health is critical to ensuring that preferences on location of birth are met.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
COVID-19
/
Parto Domiciliario
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Límite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth
Asunto de la revista:
OBSTETRICIA
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos