Table 2 Type and reason for delays identified for maternal deaths (n = 151)
From: Factors associated with maternal mortality in Malawi: application of the three delays model
Type of delay | Reason for the delay | Number of women | Percentage (%)a |
|---|---|---|---|
Women who died at a healthcare facility (n = 94) | |||
Type 3 Delay (n = 91) | Long waiting time before treatment at a healthcare facility | 89 | 94.7 |
| Â | Shortage of equipment and supplies | 62 | 66 |
| Â | Wrong assessment of risk, wrong diagnosis, wrong treatment | 48 | 51.1 |
| Â | Inadequate referral system | 36 | 40.4 |
| Â | Lack of competence on EmOC among the available personnel | 27 | 28.7 |
| Â | Staff unavailable | 22 | 23.4 |
| Â | Shortage of trained staff | 15 | 16 |
| Â | Lack of treatment guidelines | 12 | 12.7 |
Type 2 Delay (n = 56) | Long travel time from home to a healthcare facility | 49 | 52.1 |
| Â | High cost of transportation | 37 | 39.4 |
| Â | Poor road condition or terrain, difficulty crossing rivers | 17 | 18.1 |
| Â | Visited a traditional healer first or traditional birth attendant | 14 | 25.5 |
| Â | Lack of a healthcare facility in the area | 7 | 7.4 |
Type 1 Delay (n = 37) | Lack of awareness of obstetric complications | 20 | 21.3 |
| Â | Low income of the family | 16 | 17 |
| Â | Visited a traditional healer | 14 | 14.9 |
| Â | Do not want to stay long at a healthcare facility | 13 | 13.8 |
| Â | Low status of a woman (not financially empowered or husband not available) | 11 | 11.7 |
| Â | Long distance to a healthcare facility | 7 | 7.4 |
| Â | Bad experience with previous health care | 5 | 5.3 |
| Â | Uneventful home delivery previously | 4 | 4.2 |
| Â | Perceived poor quality of care at a healthcare facility | 3 | 3.1 |
Women who had accessed care at a healthcare facility but died at home (n = 32) | |||
Type 3 Delay (n = 30) | Long waiting time before treatment at a healthcare facility | 26 | 81.3 |
| Â | Shortage of drugs | 17 | 53.1 |
| Â | Staff unavailable | 13 | 40.6 |
| Â | Shortage of trained staff | 7 | 21.9 |
| Â | Inadequate referral system | 5 | 15.6 |
Type 2 Delay (n = 11) | Long travel time from home to a healthcare facility | 7 | 21.8 |
| Â | Lack of a healthcare facility in the area | 5 | 15.6 |
| Â | Cost of transportation | 4 | 12.5 |
| Â | Poor road condition or terrain, difficulty crossing rivers | 3 | 9.3 |
Type 1 Delay (n = 9) | Lack of awareness of obstetric complications | 7 | 21.9 |
| Â | Low income of the family | 6 | 18.8 |
| Â | Bad experience with previous health care | 6 | 18.8 |
| Â | Perceived poor quality of care at a healthcare facility | 5 | 15.6 |
| Â | Low status of a woman (not financially empowered or husband not available) | 4 | 12.5 |
| Â | Uneventful previous home delivery | 3 | 9.4 |
Women who did not access care and died at home (n = 25) | |||
Type 1 Delay | Perceived poor quality of care at a healthcare facility | 16 | 64 |
| Â | Lack of awareness of obstetric complications | 13 | 52 |
| Â | Uneventful previous home delivery | 9 | 36 |
| Â | Bad experience with the previous health care | 8 | 32 |
| Â | Low status of a woman (not financially empowered or husband not available) | 8 | 32 |
| Â | Long distance to a healthcare facility | 4 | 16 |
| Â | Low financial status of the family | 3 | 12 |