%0 Journal Article %T Birth and Emergency Planning: A Cross Sectional Survey of Postnatal Women at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana %A EA Udofia %A SA Obed %A BNL Calys-Tagoe %A KP Nimo %J African Journal of Reproductive Health %D 2013 %I Women's Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC) %X Birth and emergency planning encourages early decision making, helps overcome barriers to skilled maternity care and reduces preventable maternal and newborn deaths. A facility based postnatal survey of 483 childbearing women in Accra, Ghana determined birth and emergency planning steps, awareness of obstetric danger signs, reported maternal and newborn complications and birth outcome based on length of hospital stay. Supervised antenatal care and delivery were nearly universal. Overall, 62% had a birth plan, 74% had adequate knowledge of danger signs, while 64% and 37% reported maternal and newborn complications respectively. Accompaniment by a birth companion and saving money were considered the most useful planning steps. Knowledge of danger signs was associated with birth and emergency planning, and birth and emergency planning was associated with reported birth outcome. Birth and emergency planning as a critical component of antenatal care can influence birth outcomes and should be extended to all pregnant women. R¨¦sum¨¦ La planification des naissances et d'urgence encourage la prise de d¨¦cision rapide, aide ¨¤ surmonter les obstacles aux soins de maternit¨¦ qualifi¨¦s et r¨¦duit les d¨¦c¨¨s maternels et n¨¦onatals ¨¦vitables. Une enqu¨ºte post-natale qui a ¨¦t¨¦ bas¨¦e sur l¡¯¨¦tablissement, et aupr¨¨s des 483 femmes en age de procr¨¦er ¨¤ Accra, au Ghana a d¨¦termin¨¦ les ¨¦tapes de planification des naissances et d'urgence, la sensibilisation des signes de danger obst¨¦trical, a rapport¨¦ des complications maternelles et n¨¦onatales et les r¨¦sultats des naissances selon la dur¨¦e du s¨¦jour ¨¤ l'h pital. Les soins pr¨¦natals et l'accouchement surveill¨¦s ¨¦taient presque universels. Dans l'ensemble, 62% avaient un plan de naissance, 74% avaient une connaissance ad¨¦quate des signes de danger, tandis que 64% et 37% ont d¨¦clar¨¦ des complications maternelles et n¨¦onatales, respectivement. Le fait d¡¯¨ºtre accompagn¨¦ par un compagnon de naissance et d¡¯¨¦conomiser de l'argent ont ¨¦t¨¦ consid¨¦r¨¦s comme les ¨¦tapes de planification les plus utiles. La connaissance des signes de danger a ¨¦t¨¦ associ¨¦e ¨¤ la naissance et ¨¤ la planification d'urgence et la planification des naissances et d'urgence a ¨¦t¨¦ associ¨¦e ¨¤ des r¨¦sultats des naissances d¨¦clar¨¦es. La planification des naissances et d'urgence comme un ¨¦l¨¦ment essentiel des soins pr¨¦natals peuvent influer sur les r¨¦sultats de grossesses et devrait ¨ºtre mis a la port¨¦e de toutes les femmes enceintes. %U http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajrh/article/view/86429