[Prevalence and determinants of childbirth at home in two vulnerable neighborhoods of Yopougon (Abidjan), Côte d'Ivoire].

A household survey was conducted from February 13 to May 12, 2006, to determine the frequency of childbirth at home in two vulnerable districts of the township of Yopougon, and to identify the factors that determine this choice. We interviewed all women residing in these districts who gave birth during the period from January 2005 to the date of our investigation. This study showed that 17% of deliveries took place outside of a maternity ward. Most of the women interviewed, averaging 26 years of age, were illiterate and had no professional occupation; 64% were unaware of the risks associated with pregnancy and home birth. Furthermore, 25% of these women found the services and the reception at the maternity hospital to be poor and 54% felt the cost of delivery at the maternity ward to be too high. Factors that promote the choice of home birth are geographic and financial inaccessibility, ignorance of women and the poor perception of maternity services. All of the determining influences that can sway and impact a women's decision on where to give birth should be taken into account in order to improve the use of maternity services and reduce the frequency of home childbirth without medical assistance.