Table 1 Factor analysis

Cognitive attitude

I consider a clinic with a mothers’ shelter more beneficial to the mother and baby than a clinic without a mother’s shelter.

17 items; α = .75

4.28(0.06)

Staying in the mother’ shelter is important because it prevents women (who live far from the clinic) from giving birth at home or on the way to the clinic

Staying in the mother’ shelters is helpful as it makes it easier for women who live far from the clinic to give birth at the health centre

Staying in the mother’s shelters will help mothers receive assistance from a skilled birth attendant (nurse, midwife) during labour

Staying in the mothers’ shelter will help prevent labour complications for the baby and mother who live far from the clinic

I would rather deliver at a clinic with a mother’s shelter than one without a mother’s shelter

Going early to the mother’s shelter to wait for delivery from there is wiser than waiting for delivery at home until the woman is in established labour

Staying in the mothers’ shelter at the clinic is beneficial to the mother and baby as it would help them receive care from the midwife/nurse during labour and thus reduce complications

Waiting at the mother’s shelter will help women find assistance from the nurses and midwives if they develop labour complications

Waiting for delivery at the mothers’ shelter prevents pregnant women from reaching the clinic late due to long distances and lack of transport

It is important for husbands and other family members to allow their wives to wait for labour in the mothers’ shelter if they live far from the clinic

It is wise for the husbands who live far from the clinic to allow their wives to wait for delivery in the mothers’ shelters as they know their wives will be safe there

Compared to a clinic without a mothers’ shelter, a clinic with a mothers’ shelter would make it easier for me to wait for delivery from the clinic

Compared to a clinic without a mothers’ shelter, a clinic with a mothers’ shelter would make it easier for me to give birth at the clinic

Compared to a clinic without a mothers’ shelter, a clinic with a mothers’ shelter would make prevention of complications to the mother and baby more feasible as accompanying relatives can easily walk to the clinic to inform midwives and other clinic staff in case of complications

Compared to a clinic without a mothers’ shelter, a clinic with a mothers’ shelter would make prevention of complications to the mother and baby more feasible as the mother can easily walk to the clinic to get help from the midwives and other clinic staff in case of problems

Affective Attitude

Stay in the mothers’ shelter while waiting for delivery will be enjoyable to the women as she will rest

7 items; α = .72

3.52 (0.54)

Staying at the mothers’ shelter while waiting for delivery hurts the pregnant woman as it separates her from her husband and children

Staying in the mother’s shelter while waiting for delivery will be safe

Sleeping conditions at the clinic with a mothers’ shelter will be pleasant

Mothers’ shelters will provide more enjoyable bathing and washing conditions for the pregnant mothers

Mothers’ shelters would provide more satisfactory cooking facilities for the pregnant women and their relatives

Waiting for delivery at the mothers’ shelters will be stressful to the mother due to lack of money for food and other requirements

Staying in the mothers’ shelters will hurt most pregnant women as they have no one to take care of them while waiting for labour.

Descriptive Norms

Many women in my community who live far from the clinic prefer giving birth at a clinic with a mothers’ shelter (if they are present)

13 items; α = .60

3.69 (0.16)

Many women in my community who live far from the clinic prefer clinic with a mothers’ shelter (if they are present) rather than those without a mothers’ shelter

Many women in my community depend on other family members to decide for them on whether they should go and stay in the mothers’ shelter or not

Many women are happy with other people in the family and community deciding for them on whether they should go and stay in the mothers’ shelter or

In my community, husbands are the ones who decide on whether the woman should go and stay in the mothers’ shelter or not

In my community parents and mothers-in-law are the ones who decide on whether the woman should deliver at the clinic or not

Many husbands allow their wives to leave home to go and deliver at the clinic

In my community many husbands provide resources for their wives to use while waiting for labour at the mothers’ shelter

Injunctive Norms

Many people in my community believe that mothers’ shelters are beneficial to the mothers who live far from the clinic as they can go and stay there and wait for labour

9 items; α = .82

4.90 (0.20)

Many women in my community believe that, to avoid labour complications, women should go and stay in the mothers’ shelter as they wait for labour

If I live far from the clinic, my husband would approve of my delivering at a clinic with a mothers’ shelter rather than at the clinic with no shelter.

My husband would be more likely to approve of my delivering at a clinic with a mother shelter than at a clinic without a mothers’ shelter

My husband would approve of my leaving home to go and stay in the mothers’ shelter as I wait for delivery at the clinic

My children would approve of my leaving home to go and stay in the mothers’ shelter as I wait for delivery at the clinic

My parents and mother- in-law would approve of my leaving home to go and stay in the mothers’ shelter as I wait for delivery at the clinic

TBAs in my community would approve of my leaving home early to go and stay in the mothers’ helter as I wait for labour at the clinic

Important people in my community including the headmen approve of my leaving home to go and wait for delivery at the clinic

Important people in my community including nurses, neighbourhood health committee members (NHCs) and Community Health workers (CHWs) would want me to leave home to go and stay in the mothers’ shelter as I wait for labour at the clinic

I want to do what my husband, children and other family members want and stay in the mothers’ shelter while waiting for labour

Perceived Behavioural Control

The desire to have the baby examined would make it easier for me to stay for a few days (hours) after delivering in order for me and the baby to be examined by the midwives/nurses at the clinic

15 items; a = .60

4.24 (0.08)

I am confident I can convince my husband to allow me to leave home early enough to go and stay in the mothers’ shelter as I wait for labour at the clinic

I am confident that I can go and stay at the mothers’ shelter to wait for delivery even if other people in my community might have negative opinions about staying in the mothers’ shelters

I am confident I can go and stay at the mothers’ shelter even if I don’t have things to use (like baby clothes, jik, etc.)

Being accompanied by a relative would make it easier for me to stay in the mothers’ shelter as I wait for labour at the clinic

I am confident I can leave home early enough to go and stay in the mothers’ shelter as I wait for labour at the clinic

Provision of beddings to the mothers by the clinic staff would make my stay in the mothers’ shelter more manageable as I wait for labour at the clinic

Provision of food to the mothers would make my stay in the mothers’ shelter more feasible

Regular visits by midwives and other clinic staff to see if I need help would make my stay at the mothers’ shelter more feasible

Risk Perception

I believe pregnancy complications (i.e., bleeding, pre-eclampsia) are very severe

5 items; α = .83

4.98 (0.10)

I believe labour complications such as obstructed labour, bleeding and, pre-eclampsia are very severe

I believe that complications require a skilled attendant’ assistance.

I believe that, all pregnant women (regardless of age, number of children and history of past delivery) are at risk of these complications

I believe that I am personally at risk of developing complications during pregnancy and labour

Perceived Barriers

Concerns about my husband refusing to allow me to go and stay at the mothers’

14 items; α = .70

2.37 (0.17)

Concerns about who to leave my children with

Concerns about my marriage and husband when I am away

Concerns about money for food, baby clothes and other requirements (like jik, plastic paper)

Concerns about people to accompany and stay with me in the mothers’ shelter

Concerns about transport to the clinic and going back home after delivering at the clinic

Concerns about sleeping conditions in (including space) in the mothers’ shelters

Concerns about availability of blankets in the mothers’ shelter

Concerns about availability of nurses and midwifery to assist me in case of pregnancy or labour complications like breeding, high blood pressure, fitting) during my stay in the mothers’ shelters

Concerns about lack of privacy in the labour ward when I go into labour