Abstract:
Background: Length of hospital stays after cesarean delivery is a crucial measure of the quality
of obstetric care provided. prolonged stays can lead to the risk of infections, increased risk of
postpartum depression, and financial burdens while early discharge may result in an increased
risk of complications, limited recovery time, and limited access to resources and support. In
Ethiopia, there is a paucity of information about the length of stay and the factors associated with
it following cesarean deliveries. Objective: This study aimed to determine the length of stay and associated factors among
women who underwent cesarean delivery at Arba Minch town public hospital, Southern Ethiopia, 2023. Methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study was applied. To select 374 samples, a
systematic sampling technique was used, while data collection involved the use of a pretested
structured questionnaire through the Kobo toolbox mobile application. Descriptive statistics were
used to summarize the data, variables with a p-value of <0.25 were candidates for final model, and multinomial logistic regression was employed to analyze factors associated with the length
of hospital stay, adjusting for the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval at a p-value of < 0.05. Result: A total of 367 women delivered by cesarean were included in the study. Length of
hospital stay was a mean of 2.71 days (SD +.77) which ranged from 1.10–6.00 days. Women in
the age group of 20-24 years (AOR=5.19; 1.51-8.23), monthly income <2000 birr (AOR=3.11;
1.18-6.05), distance from hospital < 60 minutes (AOR=2.51; 95% CI 1.12-5.73) and previous
cesarean scar, (AOR=5.60; 1.14-9.53) were factors associated with the shorter stay. While, women with severe pre-eclampsia (AOR=2.80; 2.41-3.27), multiple births (AOR=2.51; 1.34, 4.71), and postoperative complications (AOR=3.52; 95% CI 1.35- 5.01) were factors associated
with the extended hospital stay. Conclusion: The mean length of stay in this study is lower than the global recommendation. Ministry of health should allocate more resources to maternal and child health programs and
resources, and provide additional financial support to women with less income. Raise awareness
among different stakeholders, by teaching mothers and their family members the value of the 72- 96 hour hospital stay following delivery
