65% of maternal deaths could be prevented, if all births occurred in health facilities.1 USAID: Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality: USAID Maternal Health Vision for Action
USAID
June 2014
This is a one-time behavior practiced at each birth.
Pregnant women deliver in a health facility with an equipped, qualified provider
A Behavior Profile is a summary analysis of each behavior. This sample draws from global evidence and illustrates the result of using the Create Behavior Profiles Tool to analyze factors, supporting actors and strategies and to ensure logical pathways exist between strategies proposed and factors related to the practice of the behavior. This sample may be used as a starting point or reference for creating Behavior Profiles.
Improve maternal and child survival | |
Pregnant women deliver in a health facility with an equipped, qualified provider Percentage of live births in the three years preceding the survey delivered at a health facility
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Behavior Analysis |
Strategy | ||
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STEPSWhat steps are needed to practice this behavior?
Click on any box |
FACTORSWhat factors may prevent or support practice of this behavior? These should be analyzed for each country context.StructuralAccessibility: Clinics are frequently far from households and transport is hard to find, especially in an emergency Accessibility: Maternity care is not always free Service Provider Competencies: Women want to avoid negative provider attitudes and treatment Service Experience: Not all clinics are open or staffed 24 hours SocialGender: Men are not often involved in pregnancy or childbirth due to tradition, lack of information or lack of accommodation and inclusion of men in the maternal health system Norms: Traditional birthing practices and preferences differ from women's experiences in clinics InternalAttitudes and Beliefs: Women want a healthy baby Attitudes and Beliefs: Many women perceive the quality of care they receive from a clinic as no better than that which they receive at home from a traditional birth attendant |
SUPPORTING ACTORS AND ACTIONSWho must support the practice of this behavior?InstitutionalPolicymakers: Ensure affordability of care for most vulnerable via insurance schemes, CCTs, or other financing Policymakers: Review staffing policy to ensure maternity care is accessible 24 hours Managers: Explore ways to offer more of what women want for their delivery in clinic setting Providers: Offer respectful care to clients Providers: Actively engage men in pregnancy and delivery decisions CommunityCommunity Leaders: Support women with transport costs and logistics, including facilitation of community solutions like building maternity waiting shelters HouseholdMale Partners: Actively participate in childbirth related decisions and encourage partners to deliver in a facility |
POSSIBLE PROGRAM STRATEGIESHow might we focus our efforts based on this analysis?Enabling EnvironmentFinancing: Create national insurance schemes, use conditional cash transfers (CCTs) or establish community savings schemes to ensure all are able to access maternity services Partnerships and Networks: Expand delivery of labor and delivery as well as EMONC services beyond formal system via avenues like social franchising Policies and Governance: Strengthen human resources allocation to ensure 24 hour coverage at all EmONC sites and referral systems Policies and Governance: Allow non-harmful traditional birthing practices at clinics Systems, Products and ServicesInfrastructure: Explore creation of waiting shelters for mothers Quality Improvement: Ensure providers are well-trained in and offer respectful maternity care Demand and UseCommunication: Leverage traditional birth attendants for counseling, referrals and support to women and families in planning for and delivering in a facility, including distribution of birthing kits Communication: Use targeted media, including SMS where possible, to promote the improved quality of care and tailor reminders and tips for pregnant women and their families, self-created locally appropriate or picture-based birth plans Collective Engagement: Engage community leaders and men to diffuse responsibility for women's health care |
Percentage of live births in the three years preceding the survey delivered at a health facility
Demographic and Health Survey, The DHS Program Indicator Data API, The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program, UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys