Poverty and Human Development Report 2009 - UNDP in Tanzania

POVERTY AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2009
Table 14: Percentage of Births taking place in a Health Facility,
by Mother’s Characteristics
62
Mainland Tanzania 49%
Residence
Urban 81%
Rural 39%
Mother’s Education
None 32%
Primary incomplete 42%
Primary complete 53%
Secondary + 85%
Wealth Quintile
Poorest 32%
2 nd 37%
3 rd 39%
4 th 54%
Least Poor 86%
Source: TDHS 2004/05, based on births in the five years preceding the survey
Just over 80% of urban women deliver in a health facility, compared with 39% of rural women.
Across regions, the facility-based deliveries ranged from 28% in Shinyanga to 91% in Dar es
Salaam (Figure 24). A recently published study also found that Tanzanian women would prefer
to deliver at a health facility but commonly faced multiple barriers in accessing facility-based
delivery, including the costs of preparing for delivery, the distance to the closest facility, the lack of
affordable transport at the time of labour, and the formal and informal charges incurred for delivery
at a facility. Women were still routinely instructed by health workers to purchase and bring basic
medical supplies for delivery, a rubber mat for delivery, rubber gloves for the birth attendants,
razor blades, and thread for stitching. Participants also related that they commonly had to collect
and/or bring water, and carry lamps and kerosene for light. Women often had little or no option but
to deliver at home (CARE International in Tanzania and Women’s Dignity, 2009).