Survey of Knowledge, Attitudes, Perception and Practices of Pregnancy and Birth in Women Aged 18-45 in Milot, Haiti

The WHO Millennium goal 5 is to reduce the maternal mortality ratio by 75%, between 1990 and 2015. Maternal mortality is the health outcome with the largest disparity between developed and developing countries. In Haiti, the maternal mortality ratio per 100,000 live births is 630 compared with 150 in adjacent Dominican Republic. The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women regarding pregnancy and birth. The population was women ages 18-45 living in the Milot Valley, an area with approximately 150,000 residents. A 40-question survey was administered to 50 women who were pregnant (33%) or who had delivered a child within the last 2 years (67%). The surveys were conducted at the hospital and surrounding communities. The results showed that 98% of women sought prenatal care and 93.0% sought post-natal care, with a variety of providers. Women reported a 94.0% satisfaction rate with pregnancy care. Although 78.7% of women sought prenatal care from a doctor, a doctor attended only 53.2% of births. Among women surveyed in the community, an equal amount (47.8%) delivered at home and at the hospital. Of currently pregnant women, 94.1% reported the hospital as their preferred site of delivery. Women who gave birth at home cited “no time to go elsewhere” (55.6%) and closest location (50.0%) as their reasons for choosing this site. In conclusion, this study provides insight into women's delivery practices in the Milot Valley and reveals nuances regarding delivery preferences.