Analysis on the Reasons for Selecting Birth Attendants by Delivery Mothers at Semarang Regency

AKI and AKB in Semarang district were still high, 146.24/100 000 live-birth and 13.40/ 1000 live-birth in 2011. Delivery assistance by health workers deceased, and 140 deliveries were assisted by dukun (traditional delivery assistance) with 0.24% maternal mortality in 2011. Although collaboration between dukun and jampersal (maternity insurance), yet this situation still happened. Objective of this study was to analyze reasons for selection of delivery assistance by maternities in Semarang district. Qualitative method was applied in this study. Data were collected through in-depth interview and observation. Study subjects were main informants and triangulation informants. The main informants were eight maternities (four maternities were assisted by dukun, and 4 maternities were assisted by midwives); 17 triangulation informants (four husbands/ family of maternity assisted by dukun, four husbands/ family of maternity assisted by midwives, four coordinator midwives, and a head of family health section of Semarang district health office. Content analysis was applied in the data analysis. Results of the study showed that knowledge level of mothers about healthy and safe labour was deficient. Mothers who chose dukun as their delivery assistance had negative attitude towards midwives because midwives torn the birth canal. Mothers who chose midwives had good perception towards midwives; they said that midwives were kind and skillful. Mothers who chose dukun had good perception on the post-partum management. No special culture in the delivery assistance by midwives or dukun. Accessibility to the delivery assistance when mothers were in labour was a determinant factor in the selection of the delivery assistance. Fee of delivery by dukun was reachable because it was voluntary and could be substituted by goods. Support from husband and family in the selection of delivery assistance was strong enough. In conclusion, selection of dukun as delivery assistance was related to knowledge, attitude, perception on the quality of service, fee, and accessibility for in labour mother