Abstract
Background
Consideration of the needs of pregnant women and their ability and willingness to
attend maternal services and pay for them is central to the provision of accessible
and acceptable maternal care. Women's satisfaction with maternal services is poorly
understood in many developing countries, including Cambodia in South East Asia. The
objective of this study was to investigate women's perceptions and experiences of
private and public skilled birth attendants, including midwives, during childbirth
in Cambodia.
Methods
A qualitative design using a naturalistic inquiry approach was undertaken to seek
sensitive personal issue. Thirty individual in-depth interviews were conducted with
women who had recently given birth at private and public health facilities in one
province in Cambodia. Data were analysed using a thematic approach.
Findings
Women's choice of health facility was influenced by their perceptions of safety and
staff attitudes. Reported barriers to the effective utilisation of public maternity
services were costs associated with the birth, staff attitudes and a lack of supportive
care during labour and in the postpartum period. Although private health care is more
expensive than public health care, some women reported a preference for private birth
attendants as they perceived them to provide safer and more supportive care in labour.
Conclusion
Women expect, but do not always receive humane, professional, supportive and respectful
treatment from public skilled birth attendants. While the removal of unexpected costs
and geographical barriers are important to increasing public maternity care and service
utilisation, improvements in maternity services should focus on addressing provider
attitudes and enhancing communication skills during labour, birth and the immediate
postpartum period.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 22, 2012
Accepted:
May 25,
2012
Received in revised form:
May 18,
2012
Received:
March 14,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
