Obstetric complications in rural Bangladesh: Risk factors for reported morbidity, determinants of care seeking, and service availability for emergency obstetric care

Background: In settings such as rural Bangladesh, where the majority of births occur at home, population-based data are lacking on the burden and risk factors for obstetric complications, as well as care-seeking behavior. This dissertation seeks to describe the prevalence and risk factors for obstetric complications, explore factors affecting care seeking for complications, and describe the availability of obstetric care among health facilities in rural Bangladesh.;Methods: We used extant data from a community-randomized maternal micronutrient supplementation trial which ascertained reported morbidities and care seeking among 42,214 pregnant women between 2007 and 2011 in rural northwest Bangladesh. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the association of biological, socioeconomic, and psychosocial factors with reported obstetric complications and near misses. Multivariate logistic regression of socioeconomic, demographic, perceived need, and service factors on care seeking was performed. Primary data on availability and readiness to provide obstetric services at 14 health facilities was collected through surveys.;Results: Of the 42,214 married women of reproductive age, 73% (n=30,830) were classified as having non-complicated pregnancies, 25% (n=10,380) as having obstetric complications, and 2% (n=1,004) with reported near misses. In multivariate analysis, women's age less than 18 years (Relative Risk Ratio 1.26 95% CI 1.14-1.39), obstetric history of stillbirth or abortion (RRR 1.15 CI 1.07-1.22), and neither partner wanting the pregnancy (RRR 1.33 CI 1.20-1.46) significantly increased the risk of obstetric complications. Out of 9,576 women with data on care seeking, 77% sought any care, with only 23% seeking at least one formal provider. Socioeconomic factors and service factors, such as facility availability of comprehensive obstetric services (OR 1.25 CI 1.16- 1.34), improved care seeking from formal providers. Average facility readiness for emergency obstetric care was 81% in private clinics compared to 67% in public facilities (p=0.045).;Conclusions: These analyses indicate a high burden of obstetric morbidity, with a quarter of women reporting obstetric complications. Policies to reduce early marriage and unmet need for contraception may address risk factors including adolescent pregnancy and unwanted pregnancies. Improvements in socioeconomic factors, coupled with strategies to increase service availability at health facilities, could increase care seeking from formal providers.