Perceptions of pregnancy complications in Haiti.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of perceived pregnancy complications and associated factors.


METHODS
During a census, 450 women identified themselves as pregnant and 388 were interviewed postpartum.


RESULTS
Complications were reported by 58.6%. Bleeding post-delivery was the most frequent complication (42.5%), followed by great pain (33.8%), bleeding during pregnancy (20.1%), and fever post-delivery (11.6%). Prenatal care at either a dispensary or a clinic was associated with reports of bleeding during pregnancy (odds ratio [OR] 9.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71-48.00 and OR 7.58; 95% CI, 1.53-37.48, respectively). Women who visited a doctor were less likely to report bleeding during pregnancy (OR 0.20; 95% CI, 0.08-0.55) or fever post-delivery (P=0.015). Herb use was associated with reported bleeding during pregnancy (OR 2.22; 95% CI, 1.12-4.40) and great pain (OR 1.94; 95% CI, 1.05-3.58).


CONCLUSIONS
The perceived pregnancy complication rate in Haiti is high and is associated with access to health care. The association between use of herbs and pregnancy complications warrants investigation.
Anderson
Frank W J
FW
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, USA. fwja@med.umich.edu
Naik
Sujata I
SI
Feresu
Shingairai A
SA
Gebrian
Bette
B
Karki
Manju
M
Harlow
Sioban D
SD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006205:Haiti / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population