Self-reported reproductive outcome and implications in relation to use of care in women in rural Zimbabwe.
BACKGROUND
In order to assess morbidity and health care utilization in developing countries, health interview surveys are often used. The aim of this paper is to explore morbidity, health care utilization during pregnancy and pregnancy outcome as reported by women in rural Gutu district, Zimbabwe.


METHODS
The study was cross-sectional, performed 1992-93 in 12 villages selected at random. Women aged 15-44 years (n = 1213) were interviewed concerning their reproductive history, use of maternity care and complications during pregnancy/labor during their latest pregnancy.


RESULTS
The perinatal mortality rate (PMR) for all the completed pregnancies (889 women had completed 3601 pregnancies) was 23/1000 total births. The attendance rate for antenatal care was high (94%). Elevated blood pressure was the most commonly reported late pregnancy complication, and a prolonged labor, i.e. 24 h or more, the most common complication during delivery. Out of women whose latest pregnancy did not end in an early or late abortion (n = 831) the cesarean section rate was 6.3%. The PMR was 8.4/1000 for their latest pregnancy. Institutional deliveries were preferred by the majority of women, with hospital and clinic deliveries constituting 58% and 27% of deliveries, respectively, while 15% delivered at home. Long-term complications were few, and only 14 (1.6%) women reported a current health problem, which they related to previous pregnancies.


CONCLUSIONS
Antenatal attendance rate was high. The majority of women preferred institutional deliveries. Few women reported complications, which were not taken care of in the health service. Long-term complications related to previous pregnancies were few.
Nilses
Carin
C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sundsvall Central Hospital, Mid Sweden Research, Sundsvall, Sweden. carin.niles@lvn.se
Nyström
Lennarth
L
Munjanja
Stephen
S
Lindmark
Gunilla
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D008430:Maternal-Child Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012423:Rural Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology