SAFE DELIVERY SERVICE UTILIZATION IN METEKEL ZONE, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Safe delivery service is essential for improvement of maternal and child health. However, in Ethiopia the utilization of this service is very low even for women who have access to the service. The current magnitude of safe delivery and influencing factors are not well assessed in Benishangul Gumuz region in general and in Metekel Zone in particular. The objective of this study was to assess the status of safe delivery service utilization and associated factors among women, who delivered in the past five years.

METHODS: A community based cross sectional study was conducted from January 25 to February 10, 2007 on randomly selected sample of 1,038 women, who had at least one delivery in the past five years before the survey. Structured questionnaire was used to collect the quantitative data. Focus Group Discussions and in-depth interviews were used to supplement the quantitative data. The data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 12.0.1. Independent variables affecting safe delivery service utilization were determined using multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS: A total of 1,038 mothers were interviewed giving a response rate of 97.9%. One hundred twenty five (12.0%) of the subjects received safe delivery services for their last delivery. Of all respondents, 816(78.6%) were knowledgeable about safe delivery service and 503(72.6%) of the home deliveries were reported to have been attended by relatives/family. The main reason for home delivery was absence of health problem during labor 493(71.2%). Problem during labor, antenatal care follow up, knowledge about delivery services, ethnicity and decision making power of subjects were found to have a statistically significant association with preference of safe delivery place.

CONCLUSION: There is low utilization of safe delivery service in the Zone. Socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric conditions, and cultural influences were the common factors affecting safe delivery service utilization. Therefore providing information, education and communication on delivery service utilization with special emphasis to Gumuz women is recommended.