Utilization of Skilled Birth Attendant in Bonga Town, Kafa Zone, South West Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Ethiopia with maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 353 per 100,000 live births, the majority of births are delivered at home and the proportion of deliveries assisted by skilled attendant is very low. Based on EDHS 2014 urban births are six times more likely than rural births to be delivered in a health facility (59% versus 10%). Implementing and assuring utilization of skilled delivery services is potentially one of the most effective maternal health interventions for preventing maternal morbidity and mortality. Objective: To assess utilization of skilled birth attendant (SBA) among mothers who gave birth the last one year prior to the data collection period in Bonga town, Ethiopia. Methodology: Community based cross-sectional study employing quantitative methods was conducted in Bonga town, Kaffa zone, Southwest Ethiopia from June 1 to July 25, 2013. Stratified random sampling technique was employed to select a sample of 296 participants. Logistic regression analysis was performed to obtain predictors of SBA. Results: From the total of 296 deliveries 78.6% of the women utilize skilled birth attendant during delivery. Women’s educational status, their number of pregnancy, Antenatal care (ANC) visit, knowledge about risk factors related to pregnancy and women’s power to make the decision in terms of getting skilled delivery are important predictors for their utilization of skilled birth attendant. Conclusions: Interventional IEC activities focusing on pregnancy complications and benefits of ANC for reproductive age women will be helpful in utilizing skilled delivery attendant so that their influences can be directed in the line of encouraging women to utilize skilled delivery services.