title: How decision for seeking maternal care is made--a qualitative study in two rural medical districts of Burkina Faso.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Delay in decision-making to use skilled care during pregnancy and childbirth is an important factor for maternal death in many developing countries. This paper examines how decisions for maternal care are made in two rural communities in Burkina Faso.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus group discussions (FGDs) and individual interviews (IDIs)) were used to collect information with 30 women in Ouargaye and Diapaga medical districts. All interviews were tape recorded and analyzed using QSR Nvivo 2.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Decision-making for use of obstetric care in the family follows the logic of the family's management. Husbands, brothers-in-law and parents-in-law make the decision about whether to use a health facility for antenatal care or for delivery. In general, decision-makers are those who can pay, including the woman herself. Payment of care is the responsibility of men, according to women interviewed, because of their social role and status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To increase use of health facilities in Ouargaye and Diapaga, the empowerment of women could be helpful as well as exemption of fees or cost sharing for care.
authors: Société d'Etudes et de Recherche en Santé Publique (SERSAP), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. some_tele@yahoo.fr
authors: Donmozoun Télesphore
authors: DT
authors: Somé
authors: Issiaka
authors: I
authors: Sombié
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Meda
mesh_terms: D002050:Burkina Faso; D003657:Decision Making; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000191:economics; D005190:Family; D005249:Fees and Charges; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019035:Rural Health Services; D018454:Spouses
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