Table 3.
Themes and subthemes identified during the analysis process
| Theme | Subthemes |
|---|---|
| Home delivery as the norm | • Perception of the hospital |
| ○ Perceived role of the hospital | |
| ○ Fear of the hospital | |
| • Previous experience and outcomes | |
| Collective decisions | • The role of the pregnant woman |
| ○ 1st time mothers | |
| ○ Multigravida mothers | |
| • The influence of female family members | |
| • The role of male family members | |
| • The influence of the TBA | |
| Perceptions and expressions of bodily symptoms | • Symptoms motivating different types of treatment |
| • Bearing up with the pain | |
| ○ The value of being a strong woman | |
| ○ Preventing a crowd | |
| • Perceptions of risk | |
| ○ Immoral behaviour and complications | |
| ○ Fear of witchcraft | |
| Role of God | • Explanation of problems/complications |
| • Fatalistic approach | |
| ○ Marked by God | |
| • Justification of actions | |
| Flexibility and dynamics in health seeking | • Use & accessibility of ‘Oporto’ medicine |
| • Use & accessibility of traditional medicine | |
| • Free Health Care Initiative | |
| • Bylaws |