The role of Distance and Transportation in decision making to seek emergency obstetric care among Women of Reproductive Age in South-South Nigeria: A Mixed Methods Study

Objective: to explore the role of transportation in seeking emergency obstetric care among women with obstetric complications. Study Design: A mixed-methods design that used both questionnaire and in-depth interviews. Setting: The study was conducted in Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria, between February and May 2015. Study Population: The population for the study were women aged 15-49 years who had experience direct obstetric complications and were attending the health facility for care at the time of this study. Sample Size: Three-hundred and eighteen (318) women attending the health facility for emergency obstetric care completed the questionnaires, whilst in-depth interviews were held for six women who were conveniently selected from a large (318) quantitative respondents. Data collection and of Analysis: Both questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were used in collecting data for this study. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) using both inferential and bivariate analysis, whilst a qualitative content analysis was carried out on the qualitative data. Main Results: Of the 318 respondents, 91.2% accessed health facilities by motorised transport with 8.8% on-foot. Regularity at antenatal care was higher (92.9%) among mothers who came to the health facility on-foot. None regularity at antenatal care was also associated with travel time and road network. Conclusions: The study concludes that efficient, favourable and suitable transport system as well as cost are key factors influencing women role in decision-making to seek care in the study area.