Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes of Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness in Recently Delivered Women of a Southwestern Nigerian Town

CONTEXT: Birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) have been shown to increase knowledge of danger signs and enhance access to skilled obstetric care. Previous studies have focused on intermediate outcomes of BPCR such as utilization of skilled care for pregnancy and delivery. AIMS: This study aims to determine the maternal and perinatal outcomes associated with birth preparedness and complication readiness. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional study involving 827 recently delivered women, attending selected health facilities in Ikenne, southwestern Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BPCR was determined from a set of eight indicators that were developed by the John Hopkin’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Bivariate analysis was done using Chi-square test, and binary logistic regression model was used to assess factors related to BPCR practice among respondents. The level of statistical significance was set to P < 0.05. RESULTS: BPCR was observed in 470/827 (56.8%) of the participants. Only a minority had knowledge of financial – 125/827 (15.1%) and transportation assistance – 56/827 (6.8%). Knowledge of ≥ 5 danger signs of pregnancy was also low, 286/827 (34.6%). Institutional delivery was in only 331/827 (40%), and it depended on being birth prepared and complication ready (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =0.534, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.319–0.893). Significantly more perinatal deaths occurred to women who were not birth prepared (AOR = 2.951, 95% CI = 1.436–6.062), although no difference existed for perinatal (AOR = 1.202, 95% CI = 0.653–2.214) and maternal (AOR = 0.744, 95% CI = 0.452–1.226) morbidities. CONCLUSION: The knowledge and practice of key indicators of BPCR that reflect utilization of community resources in Ikenne Local Government Area is very poor. BPCR was an important determinant of perinatal survival.