Gendered Barriers to Safe Motherhood: Women’s Social Status and Place of Delivery in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

According to Global Gender Gap Index-2025, in Pakistan the maternal mortality is 155 in 100,000 live births and still 32 percent of births are attended by other than skilled health service personals. In the present study social status of women and gender role is investigated to explain place of delivery in Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Researchers used quantitative research design with probability sampling method to select 500 married women. The researchers used cluster and simple random sampling techniques to divide study locale. The researchers used interview schedule to conduct household survey through female research assistants in the area. Descriptive and inferential statistics are used to explain the results. In results 28.7 percent women shared that last delivery take place in home and other than a health facility. Among the respondent’s 76 percent shared that women are treated inferior to men in family. The cross tabulation shows that decision taken by husband with home as place of delivery (OR 4.007, 95% CI (1.218-13.182) with significant level is .022. The study concluded that due to gendered barriers safe motherhood is a challenge in the study locale.