Abstract:
Background: Maternal health delay that have a significant contribution to maternal death
in developing countries including Ethiopia are: delay in deciding to seek care, reaching
health facility, and receiving appropriate care. There is low information as well as
minimal evidence on the maternal delays and associated factors among post-natal women
in rural parts in Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of maternal
delays and associated factors among postnatal mothers who gave birth at public health
facilities in selected rural Woredas in Gamo zone, Southern Ethiopia.
Methods: A cross sectional facility based study was conducted among 394 postnatal
mothers. The data were collected using pre-tested face to face interviewer administered
questionnaires. Systematic random sampling method was employed. Bivariate and
multivariable logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify the associated factors
for the three delays. Significance were declared by using p value of <0.05 and AOR with
95% confidence intervals.
Result: The magnitude of first maternal delay was 46.8%. Unemployed women [AOR:
2.2, 95%CI: (1.15, 4.16)], birth preparedness [AOR: 2.7, 95%CI: (1.29, 5.71)], husband’s
decisions making [AOR: 6, 95%CI :( 2.87, 12.42)] were found to be significantly
associated with 1st
delay. Mothers who faced the second delay were 44%. Distance to
health facility [AOR: 7, 95%CI: (3.58, 13.71)], and means of transportation [AOR: 3.3,
95%CI: (1.13, 9.54)] were found to be significantly associated with the second delay.
Mothers who experienced the third maternal delay were 31.7%. Availability of obstetric
drugs [AOR: 8.4, 95%CI: (3.76, 18.76)], and availability of skilled health provider [AOR:
10.4, 95%CI: (4.24, 25.69)] were found to be significantly associated with the third delay
to utilize institutional delivery services.
Conclusion: This study showed that the magnitude of 1st
,2nd
and 3rd
maternal delays were
high which indicates that most of mothers were not receive institutional delivery services
in a timely manner. Maternal socio-economic and obstetric factors as well as health care
system factors affected the three delays in this study. Hence, emphasis should be given
for awareness creation on key danger signs during labor and child birth, women
empowering for in decision making, strengthening ambulance services and ensuring or
availing obstetric drugs at health center levels were recommended.
