Birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) is a process of planning for normal birth and anticipating the actions needed in case of emergency. This study assessed awareness, practice and factors influencing birth preparedness and complication readiness among women attending antenatal clinic at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. The Specific objective were to assessed the level of awareness of birth preparedness and complication readiness, determined the practice of birth preparedness and complication readiness, and identified the factors affecting birth preparedness and complication practice among women attending antenatal clinic at UCTH, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Three (3) research questions and one hypothesis were formulated to guide the study. The research design employed for the study is cross-sectional descriptive survey design. The sample of the study comprised two hundred and thirty-eight (238) pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at UCTH, Calabar. The sample was selected using simple random sampling technique. The instrument of data collection was a structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive charts, frequencies, tables and percentages. The hypothesis was tested for significance at 0.05 level, using Chi-square (X2) analysis. The findings of the study revealed that large proportion (73.5%) respondents have high level awareness of birth preparedness and complication readiness, while (26.5%) have low awareness. Majority (50.4%) of the respondents have high level practice, 39.1% have moderate practice, while 10.5% respondents have low practice. The factors affecting birth preparedness and complication readiness among women attending antenatal clinic at UCTH, Calabar include: distance to health facility, lack of adequate support/assistance from family members, relative and friends, lack of financial support from my husbands, lack of awareness of the components of birth preparedness and complication readiness and poor inter-personal relationship between midwives and pregnant women. There is a significant relationship between the level of awareness and practice of birth preparedness and complication readiness among couples attending antenatal clinic at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar. Based on the results, the researcher recommends that health policy makers, hospital managements and nurse leaders should organize regular mass orientation and sensitization programs for couples on the importance of birth preparedness and complication readiness. This will help to educate and increase awareness of the practice, as well as motivate couples to always practice it.
Keywords: Birth Preparedness, Complication Readiness, Factors, awareness, practice
