Factors associated with home birth in Peru: An analysis of the Demographic and Health Survey, 2019

ObjectiveTo determine the proportion and factors associated with home birth in Peru, 2019. Material and methodsCross-sectional analytical design study where the 2019 Peruvian Demographic and Family Health Survey was analyzed. The association was evaluated using Poisson Regression, supplemented with the crude prevalence ratio (cPR) and adjusted (aPR). ResultsThe records of 18,401 women were evaluated, where 5.39% (95%CI:4.83-6.03%) presented home birth. The probability of a home birth occurs increases when the pregnant woman is from the andean (aPR:1.24; 95%CI:1.02-1.48) and amazon region (aPR:1.38; 95%CI:1.16-1.64), resides in rural areas (aPR:3.34; 95%CI:2.61-4.29), presents less than 6 prenatal care (aPR:1.66; 95%CI:1.39 -1.96), it is very poor (aPR:9.62; 95%CI:5.13-18.1) or poor (aPR:2.39; 95%CI:1.26-4.52), it has not studied (aPR:2.66; 95%CI:2.02-3.50) or reached primary education (aPR:2.18: 95%CI:1.85-2.58) and has 2 children (aPR:1.64; 95%CI:1.46-1.85) or 3 or more children (aPR:2.18; 95%CI:1.67-2.87). On the other hand, having higher educational instruction (aPR:0.49; 95%CI:0.31-0.78) is associated with a lower probability of a home birth. ConclusionsThere is a low proportion of home births; however, this indicator increases significantly according to various geographical, sociodemographic, and obstetric factors that have been identified. HIGHLIGHTSO_LIThe proportion of home births in Peru is low, although it reaches high values in the amazon and rural areas. C_LIO_LISociodemographic determinants such as poverty and low educational level are risk factors for home birth. C_LIO_LIObstetric determinants such as having few prenatal controls or had having previously multiple deliveries are risk factors for home birth. C_LI