Socioeconomic factors affecting the accessibility to emergency obstetric care in a periurban area of district Lahore

ABSTRACT

To find out the frequency of emergencies related to obstetrics and the impact of socioeconomic factors influencing the accessibility to emergency obstetric care. Cross-sectional study. Place and duration of study Shah di Kohi, District Lahore, Punjab, from October to November 2002.A total of 190 females of reproductive age group who had ever passed through the reproductive process were selected and interviewed. Out of 190 respondents. 55 experienced obstetrical complications. Thus [56%] complications occurred during pregnancy, 30% during delivery and 14% during postnatal period. Complication rate in women who have ever passed through the reproductive process was 8.9% but obstetrical complication rate in last one year [i.e. from30[th] November 2001 to 30[th] November 2002] was 12.5%. The impact of education of respondents and their husbands on accessibility to EOC within half an hour for obstetric emergencies was statistically significant [P- value =0.00058 and 0.00033 respectively] Decision were generally made by husbands, mother in laws and mothers for accessing EOC. In 81% of these complications, the respondents could not have access to EOC with in half an hour [P-value=0.0031]. Respondents' occupation, family income arid availability of conveyance had no effect on accessibility to emergency obstetric care within half an hour for critical obstetric emergencies. Illiteracy among the couples and decision-making by the husbands and mother-in-laws are the main factors responsible for not accessing the EOC within half an hour. Creating awareness among the couples though education and empowerment of women is necessary to decrease the maternal mortality and morbidity