The Effects of Perceived Safety and Accessibility on The Choice of Local Birthing Centers Versus Hospitals Among Expectant Mothers In Cogon, Tagbilaran City, Bohol

Abstract

Perceived safety refers to the trust and sense of security that a healthcare facility provides, while accessibility involves proximity, affordability, and ease of transport. These two factors play an important role in a mother’s decision when choosing where to give birth. This quantitative descriptive-correlational research study was conducted to determine the relationship between perceived safety and accessibility and the preferred childbirth facility among fifty-five purposively selected expectant mothers in Barangay Cogon, Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Data were collected using modified and validated questionnaires and analyzed through descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and Pearson correlation. The results showed no significant relationship between the respondents’ demographic profiles such as age, civil status, education, employment status, income, and number of pregnancies and their perceived level of safety and accessibility. However, a significant correlation was found between perceived safety and perceived accessibility. This means that when expectant mothers feel a facility is safe, they are more likely to find it accessible as well. The proposed intervention is the development of community-based birthing initiatives. The findings highlight the need to enhance both safety standards and access to maternal care to support better childbirth decisions.