Preparing for delivery

Birth-preparedness and complication readiness is a comprehensive strategy to improve the use of skilled providers at birth and to prepare for an emergency. Birth-preparedness and complication readiness include: (a) knowledge of danger signs; (b) plan for where to give birth; (c) plan for a birth attendant; (d) plan for transportation; and (e) plan for saving money.

A district-based model service-delivery system implemented in Koupéla, Burkina Faso, (2001-2004) included a birth-preparedness and complication readiness approach. A cross-sectional survey with a random sample of respondents was conducted to measure the impact of birth-preparedness and complication readiness on the use of skilled providers at birth. Of the 180 women who had given birth within 12 months of the survey, 46.1per cent had a plan for transportation, and 83.3 per cent had a plan to save money. Women with these plans were more likely to give birth with the assistance of a skilled provider (Moran 2004).