Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that were contributing to selfreferrals
of antenatal women at the Dilokong Hospital in the Tubatse Local
Municipality. By employing a quantitative, non-experimental research method, 360
women completed and submitted a structured questionnaire. Validity and reliability
were insured by pre-testing the data collection instrument on respondents who were
not part of the main study. Data was analysed by using the SPSS and Excel computer
programs with the assistance of a statistician. The age group between 21 and 30
years 197 (54.7%) was larger than the other age groups. Primigravida women
represented less than half 147 (40.3%) of the respondents. These women were also
supposed to be referred to the hospital for delivery; however, only 23.3% of the women
were referred to the hospital for delivery. The choice of the delivery site was influenced
by a lack of women’s knowledge about the referral system and of services offered at
the clinics, as well as the unavailability of doctors, midwives, food, equipment, enough
space for delivery at the clinics, and the perceptions that nurses and midwives were
rude. The government should ensure that the clinics are provided with adequate
human resources and other resources that are needed for providing these health
services. Pregnant women should be given referral letters and information with regard
to where they are supposed to deliver.
Key concepts: Antenatal women, self-referral, referral system, and Primary Health
Care (PHC).
