BACKGROUND: Globally, pregnancy and childbirth claim the lives of an estimated 514,000 women each year. Most deaths (98%) occur in the developing world. Although India has made substantial progress in maternal health, it still accounts for 25% of global maternal deaths and the maternal death rate is even worse in the exploding slums of India. The study aimed to assess the preference and practices regarding the place of childbirth and to identify the factors affecting the choice among married women in the slums of Aligarh.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July 2012 to June 2013 in two urban slums of Aligarh with sample of 405 women’s selected using systematic random sampling. Information about the childbirth practices such as place of childbirth and reason for choosing a particular facility for childbirth was recorded along with the socio-demographic data; women’s age, education, occupation,religion, type of family, socioeconomic status and birth order. Chi square test was used to examine the differences between the groups.

RESULTS: Of 405 childbirths, 58.3% were born in a hospital. Most common reason for in-hospital or at-home childbirths were safety (47.5%) and tradition (37.3%) respectively. Among 405 women, 301 women (74.4%) received antenatal care (ANC) services while 208 women (51.4%) received adequate ANC visits (=3 ANC visits). Better antenatal care utilization, higher levels of education of women and standard of living, lower birth order of the child led to increased utilization of hospitals for childbirth in a significant manner.

CONCLUSION: Home based child birth was observed to be a common practice in slum areas. Socio-demographic variables of reproductive age group women played an important role in selection of place of childbirth.