Delayed health-seeking continues to contribute to preventable maternal and neonatal deaths in low resource countries. Some of the strategies to avoid the delay include early preparation for birth and the detection of danger signs. This survey aimed to assess the level of practice and factors associated with birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) in Kenya and Tanzania.
The community-based multi-stage cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Kilifi and Kisii counties in Kenya and Mwanza region in Tanzania and included women who delivered babies two years preceding the survey (2016–2017).
The survey found that only 11.4% and 7.6% of women were well prepared for birth and its complications in Kenya and Tanzania, respectively, while 39.7% and 30.6% were unprepared, respectively.
