Barriers to utilization of primary health care facilities by pregnant women during labour in Mopani District, Limpopo Province

Abstract

Background: Facilities of primary health care were with intent to increase accessibility to health care services by communities in the facilities’ locality, with higher priority for previously disadvantaged communities. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine barriers to the utilization of PHC facilities by pregnant women during labour in Mopani District, Limpopo Province. Methodology: Qualitative approach following exploratory, descriptive, and contextual designs was used. The study was conducted in Greater Giyani Local Municipality. All post-natal women consulting at primary health care facilities in the Greater Giyani Local Municipality were for the study. Convenience sampling was used to select 30 post-natal women from selected facilities. Purposive sampling was used to select one Community Health Centres and four clinics. Data was collected using unstructured individual. Ethical principles were adhered to, and trustworthiness was ensured through dependability, consistency, credibility, and confirmability. Findings: This study revealed barriers to the utilization of PHC facilities by pregnant women during labour in Mopani District as described according to the following themes: Patient-related barriers to giving birth in clinics, service-related barriers to giving birth in clinics, resource-related barriers to giving birth in clinics, as well as participants’ views on addressing barriers to giving birth in clinics. Recommendations: The Department of Health should invest in human resources through the employment and training of competent health care service providers to provide quality care in the facilities for 24 hours. The department should further invest in physical resources through the procurement of medical equipment to support health care workers in providing quality, safe and sufficient care in these facilities.