Rosemary King|Ruth Jackson|Elaine Dietsch|Asseffa Hailemariam
Barriers and facilitators to accessing skilled birth attendants in Afar region, Ethiopia
Federation University|Deakin University|Charles Sturt University|Griffith University|Addis Ababa University
explore barriers facilitators enable women access skilled birth attendance afar region ethiopia researchers used key informant research approach kir whereby health extension workers participated intensive training workshop conducted interviews afar women communities data also collected healthcare workers questionnaires interviews focus groups fourteen health extension workers key informants interviewers 33 women eight healthcare workers range experience caring afar childbearing women provided data individuals focus groups participants identified friendly service female skilled birth attendants sba introduction ambulance service facilitators sba many barriers accessing sba including womens low status restricted opportunities decision making lack confidence healthcare facilities long distances cost domestic workload traditional practices include preference birthing home traditional birth attendant many afar men women expressed lack confidence services provided healthcare facilities impacts skilled birth attendance utilisation ambulance services free charge women effective means transfer women hospital emergency care required expansion ambulance services would powerful facilitator increasing institutional birth skilled birth attendants working institutions need ensure practice culturally physically emotionally safe afar women accept midwifery care adequate equipping staffing institutions providing emergency obstetric newborn care assist improving community perceptions services importantly mutual respect collaboration traditional birth attendants afar womens preferred caregiver health extension workers skilled birth attendants help ensure timely consultation referral reduce delay women require emergency maternity care