The influence of distance and level of care on delivery place in rural Zambia: a study of linked national data in a geographic information system.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Maternal and perinatal mortality could be reduced if all women delivered in settings where skilled attendants could provide emergency obstetric care (EmOC) if complications arise. Research on determinants of skilled attendance at delivery has focussed on household and individual factors, neglecting the influence of the health service environment, in part due to a lack of suitable data. The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of distance to care and level of care on women's use of health facilities for delivery in rural Zambia, and to compare their population impact to that of other important determinants.

Methods and findings

Using a geographic information system (GIS), we linked national household data from the Zambian Demographic and Health Survey 2007

SUBMITTER: Gabrysch S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3026699 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature