Factors affecting women's health-related behaviors and safe motherhood: a qualitative study from a refugee camp in eastern Sudan

Health Care Women Int. 2008 Sep;29(8):884-905. doi: 10.1080/07399330802269600.

Abstract

We aim to provide a deeper understanding of a broader range of potential factors affecting risk behaviors related to safe motherhood among refugee women in Eastern Sudan, thus creating a basis for further research in behavioral change. Risk behaviors chosen for this study follow (1) practice of female genital cutting, (2) adopting family planning (FP) practices, (3) usage of a skilled birth attendant, and (4) response to obstetric complications. Analyzing findings with the PRECEDE-PROCEED model, we found that factors frequently were uncontrollable for an individual woman, suggesting the importance of a supportive political, social, and educational environment for safe motherhood.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Attitude to Health
  • Developing Countries
  • Female
  • Health Behavior / ethnology*
  • Health Planning
  • Humans
  • Maternal Health Services / organization & administration*
  • Maternal Mortality / trends
  • Maternal Welfare*
  • Needs Assessment
  • Pregnancy
  • Qualitative Research
  • Refugees / statistics & numerical data*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk-Taking
  • Sudan
  • Surveys and Questionnaires