Prevalence and predictors of birth preparedness and complication readiness in the Kassena-Nankana district of Ghana: an analytical cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: To assess birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPACR) and associated factors among mothers who had given birth in the past 12 months prior to the study. DESIGN: An analytical cross-sectional study. SETTING: The study was carried out in the rural areas of Kassena-Nankana district located in the Upper East Region of Ghana. PARTICIPANTS: The study population comprised 600 postpartum women who had delivered within the last 12 months prior to the study. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome measure was BPACR. RESULTS: The prevalence of BPACR among recently delivered women was very low as less than 15% were able to mention at least three of the five basic components of birth preparedness/complication readiness that were fulfilled. After adjustment for confounding effect using multivariable logistic regression analysis, high educational level (adjusted OR (AOR)=3.40 (95% CI: 1.88 to 6.15)), better knowledge about obstetric danger signs during pregnancy (AOR=4.88 (95% CI: 2.68 to 8.90)), older women (≥35 years) (AOR=2.59 (95% CI: 1.11 to 6.02)), women of low household wealth index (AOR=4.64 (95% CI: 1.97 to 10.91)) and women who received lower content of antenatal care services (AOR=3.34 (95% CI: 1.69 to 6.60)) were significant predictors of BPACR. CONCLUSION: This study concludes that BPACR practices were low. High educational attainment of the woman, having adequate knowledge about obstetric danger signs during pregnancy, older women (≥35 years) and women of low household wealth index were significant predictors of BPACR. The predictors identified should be given high priority by health authorities in addressing low prevalence of BPACR.