WOMEN PREFERENCE FOR PLACE OF DELIVERY IN BANGLADESH: BANGLADESH DEMOGRAPHIC HEALTH SURVEY’ 2014

ABSTRACT Although Bangladesh showed development in improving maternal health in the previous year, but delivery care is not advanced more. This research tried to discover the preference of place of delivery and determinants associated with delivery services at public hospitals. The purpose of this study was to observe the preference of place of delivery and to determine some factors for public medical as a place of delivery in Bangladesh. The data used in this analysis were gathered from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey’ 2014. From the analytical point of view, this study was based on percentage distribution, cross table analysis and binary logistic regression. The result explored that most of the home delivery (77.50%) took place at rural area. Among the home delivery Chittagong region (20.20%) showed the highest percentages. The people of Barisal (9.50%) went to public medical for delivery very few compare to other regions. Most of the childbirth of Dhaka region (22.90%) occurred at private clinic. Higher educated mothers (4.40%) did not like to deliver their child in home. Mothers having no formal education less went to public hospital (9.70%) and private clinic (4.40%) than others. Primary educated women had a 93% higher preference to go to public medical more than illiterate women (OR=1.930; 95% CI: 1.182-3.150). Housewife respondents (74.10%) gave birth at home mostly. Most of the home delivery (53.60%) were preferred by those mothers who had lowest wealth index. They went to public hospital (29.90%) very little in number and only 14.90% in private clinic for childbirth. Women with middle wealth status (OR= 1.989; 95% CI: 1.446-2.736) preferred to go to public hospital more than poor women. It was almost same for rich women (OR= 1.731; 95% CI: 1.297-2.309). Around 53.70% home delivery chose by those mothers who did not watching television. Respondent who were less 20 age than had 87.00% choice for home delivery. Mothers having birth order number 2-3 wanted home delivery compared to other mothers. Moreover, respondents who took no prenatal care by qualified doctor (55.30%) preferred home delivery. Otherwise they went to public medical or private clinic for delivery care.  They were 67.5% higher preference to go public hospital than institutions. Access to health care in governmental medicals should be made easy. Public hospital need to grow more caring attitude for delivery. This particular area of safe delivery needs a great concern to change public attitude and raise awareness. Keywords: Place of delivery, Childbirth, Women, Mother and Bangladesh. Abbreviations: CI: Confidence Interval; OR: Odd Ratio; TBA: Traditional Birth Attendant; WHO: World Health Organization, BDHS: Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey; MDGs: Millennium development goals; MOHFW: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.