Factors Associated with Safe Delivery Practice in Bangladesh

Abstract

Infant and maternal health and safety are often high on the agenda of governments in developing countries. Giving such women freedom of choice in decision-making has the potential to enhance the proportion of safe delivery practices and to improve infant and maternal health and safety. However, in many countries, few women participate in decision-making because of cultural traditions. The objective of this study was to identify the household characteristics, especially those of women that have significant relationships with safe delivery practices (i.e., delivery that occurred in the presence of doctors or trained healthcare professionals) in Bangladesh. The effects of the sociodemographic variables on the pursuit of safe delivery practices were evaluated through logistic regression analysis. The study is based on secondary data drawn from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), 2011. The results suggest that several socio-demographic factors have significant associations with safe delivery practices in Bangladesh, especially education (woman and husband), previous access to antenatal care, and exposure to mass media. The choice of safe delivery practices is highly influenced by the household’s and the woman’s characteristics and health institutions in Bangladesh should consider these to improve the effectiveness of their policies.