Patterns of Preferred Delivery Locations among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Rivers State, Nigeria

Aims: To determine the pattern of preferred delivery locations, home, public health facility, private health facility, or traditional birth attendant's residence/centre among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in selected Local Government Areas of Rivers State, Nigeria. Study design: A descriptive cross-sectional approach. The focus was on the collection and analysis of quantitative data to determine the patterns, evaluate the hypotheses, and present the findings. The researcher was able to measure the factors associated with the choice of delivery venues among women attending maternal health clinics using this approach. Place and Duration of Study: Selected Local Government Areas and health facilities, Rivers State, Nigeria, between April 2025 and November 2025. Methodology: We recruited 418 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics using a multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire. Preferred delivery location was categorized as home, public health facility, private health facility, or traditional birth attendant residence/centre. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26. Frequencies and percentages summarized categorical variables, while associations were tested using Pearson chi-square or Fisher exact tests as appropriate. The statistical significance threshold was set at alpha = .05. Results: Of 400 eligible pregnant women were approached, 367 completed the study, giving a response rate of 91.8%. Public/private health facilities were reported by 296 (80.7%) respondents, home delivery by 222 (60.5%), and traditional birth attendant residences/centres by 128 (34.9%); percentages exceeded 100% because respondents could indicate more than one delivery location. Conclusion: Health facilities were the dominant delivery location among the respondents, although home and traditional birth attendant delivery remained common. The findings indicate a need to reduce financial and geographic barriers, strengthen respectful maternity care, and involve families in antenatal birth-preparedness counselling to support safer facility-based delivery.