Planned homebirths in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Summary

Five hundred women attending the antenatal clinic at Yerwa maternal and the child health clinic in Maiduguri, Nigeria who planned to have their deliveries conducted at home were recruited into the study. The majority of the patients were illiterate. Eighty per cent of the women had uncomplicated labour conducted by traditional birth attendants at home while 20 per cent required transfer to hospital for delivery. Three per cent of the women who delivered at home required further hospitalisation. The perinatal mortality rate in the study group was 16/1000. Five of the perinatal deaths occurred among those who required hospital birth.