Maternal health care service seeking behaviors and associated factors among women in rural Haramaya District, Eastern Ethiopia: a triangulated community-based cross-sectional study

Dereje Kifle,Yalemzewod Assefa Gelaw,Telake Azale,Yayehirad Alemu Melsew

doi:10.1186/s12978-016-0270-5

Dereje Kifle, Yalemzewod Assefa Gelaw + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-016-0270-5

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Journal: Reproductive Health	Publication Date: Jan 13, 2017
Citations: 86	License type: open-access

Affiliation: University of Gondar

Abstract

BackgroundRegular utilization of maternal health care services reduces maternal morbidity and mortality. This study assessed the maternal health care seeking behavior and associated factors of reproductive age women in rural villages of Haramaya district, East Ethiopia.MethodsCommunity based cross sectional study supplemented with qualitative data was conducted in Haramaya district from November 15 to Decemeber 30, 2015. A total of 561 women in reproductive age group and who gave birth in the last 2 years were randomly included. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions model was used to identify the associated factors. Odds ratios with 95% CI were used to measure the strength of association.ResultMaternal health care service seeking of women was found as; antenatal care 74.3% (95% CI; 72.5, 76.14), attending institutional delivery 28.7% (95% CI; 26.8, 30.6) and postnatal care 22.6% (95% CI; 20.84, 24.36). Knowledge of pregnancy complications, Educational status, and religion of women were found to be significantly associated with antenatal health care, delivery and postnatal health care service seeking behaviours triangulated with individual, institutional and socio-cultural qualitative data.ConclusionThe maternal health care service seeking behavior of women in the study area was low. Educational status of the women, birth order and knowledge about pregnancy complications were the major factors associated with maternal health care service seeking behavior Focused health education with kind and supportive health care provider counseling will improve the maternal health care seeking behaviors of women.

Highlights

Regular utilization of maternal health care services reduces maternal morbidity and mortality
Educational status of the women, birth order and knowledge about pregnancy complications were the major factors associated with maternal health care service seeking behavior Focused health education with kind and supportive health care provider counseling will improve the maternal health care seeking behaviors of women
Plain English summary The health of women during their pregnancy and delivery is vital for the mother and their children

Summary

Introduction

Regular utilization of maternal health care services reduces maternal morbidity and mortality. This study assessed the maternal health care seeking behavior and associated factors of reproductive age women in rural villages of Haramaya district, East Ethiopia. Maternal health is the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period and maternal health care services are antenatal care (ANC), delivery care and postnatal care (PNC) services [1]. Despite efforts that have been made to strengthen maternal health care services, maternal mortality is still high in most of the developing countries [2]. Approximately 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth and 99% of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries [3]. The large number of maternal mortality, especially in developing countries has been due to low level of maternal health care seeking behaviour. With a maternal mortality ratio of 673/100,000 and 19,000 maternal deaths annually, Ethiopia is a major contributor to the world-wide death toll of mothers [9]

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